The State Government has decided to provide relief of Rs. 450 per kanal for irrigated land and Rs. 225 for non-irrigated (rainfed) land as a cost of seeds, fertilizers and pesticides to those farmers whose crops were damaged in recent devastating floods in the State.This was stated by the Minister for Agriculture, Ghulam Hassan Mir while chairing a high level meeting of officers convened to take stock of the damages caused to the crops and vegetables in the recent floods.According to a statement issued to GNS, the Minister said that the amount will be provided out of State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF) and would be disbursed to the farmers through the concerned Deputy Commissioners after verifying the facts from Revenue and Agriculture Departments.
It was informed that standing crops spread over on 3.50 hectares of land were damaged in the recent floods. The Minister said that a comprehensive proposal for Rs. 217 crore as relief package has been formulated and submitted to the Centre for funding. The amount would be provided to those farmers whose crops were damaged in the flood, incessant rains and cold shock as well as diseases by rains.
Reviewing the seed and fertilizers, the meeting was informed that the Department of Agriculture will provide 21753.5 quintals various kinds of seeds to the farmers for Rabbi Season 2014-15. It was also given out that there is requirement of 94650 metric tonnes of different kinds of fertilizers in the Kashmir valley.
Among others, Commissioner Secretary, Agriculture, Dr. Asgar Samoon, Director Agriculture, Kashmir, Peerzada Mushtaq Ahmed, Senior officers of Agriculture, Horticulture, Planning and other allied sectors of the department attended the meeting.Later, the Minister visited flood affected areas of Narbal, Sozeith, Goripora, Mazahama and Magam to take stock of the post-flood situation. He interacted with the people and enquired about restoration of essentyial services in the area. (GNS)