PANAJI
Farmers across Goa who lost their ready-to-harvest kharif paddy crop to heavy unseasonal rains in October will have to wait longer for compensation, as the model code of conduct for the December 20 Zilla Panchayat elections is in place.
Government sources said that although all paperwork for the payouts has been completed, the funds may be released only after December 22, once the election results are declared. However, some officials in the Agriculture Department have said that the compensation can be paid even during the election period, as it is part of an ongoing scheme and not a new one.
CM Pramod Sawant had assured farmers that the compensation would be paid in December to help them meet expenses for the rabi season. Many farmers have already begun preparations for rabi sowing.
The Agriculture Department completed its assessment in November and approved claims for nearly 3,000 farmers whose crops were damaged by heavy rains after Diwali, following the withdrawal of the monsoon.
Director of Agriculture Sandeep Fol Desai said that Rs 2.53 crore will be paid to 2,997 farmers under the Shetkari Adhar Nidhi scheme. Field inspections showed that 577 hectares of paddy were affected.
Bardez taluka suffered the most damage, with over 200 hectares of crops destroyed, affecting 930 farmers. Waterlogging caused the crops to rot and harvesting became difficult in flattened fields. Farmers were asked to submit their compensation claims through their zonal agriculture offices.
Under the scheme, farmers receive Rs 40,000 per hectare, up to a maximum of four hectares. This means a farmer can get up to Rs 1.6 lakh once payments are released. The delay has increased the worry of farmers already facing climate-related losses. They say timely support is crucial to continue farming and prepare for the rabi season.
