Jharkhand offers Rs 410 crore relief fund to farmers

Ranchi: In view of the looming drought situation in Jharkhand, the state government has announced a Rs 410 crore relief package for farmers, an official said on Monday.

The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Arjun Munda on Sunday.

The special package for farmers includes Rs 600 per acre for diesel subsidy and interest free loans, among other measures.

[caption id=“attachment_396478” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  The special package for farmers includes Rs 600 per acre for diesel subsidy and interest free loans, among other measures. Reuters[/caption]

“From the package, Rs 240 crore will be for interest free loans, Rs 150 crore for diesel subsidy and Rs 20 crore for purchase of seeds of maize and other crops for alternative farming,” a government official told IANS on Monday.

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The decision was taken in the light of deficit rainfall of around 22 percent.

Due to rainfall deficit, the sowing of various crops has slipped to between 25 percent and 35 percent.

In 2011, the state received just 20 percent more rainfall than normal, which resulted in bumper crops of paddy and other food grains.

Jharkhand recorded around 50 million tonnes of food grain production, which was much more than 20 million tonnes in previous years.

IANS