Rs 1600 cr package to support cyclone-hit Odisha farmers, fisherman and others

The Odisha government Saturday announced a Rs 1600 crore package for livelihood support for farmers, fishermen and others affected by Cyclone Fani. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced the package and included support for those dependants on animal husbandry, fisheries, handloom and handicraft.

As per the announcement, agriculture input subsidy of Rs 6,800 per hectare of land in non-irrigated areas, Rs 13,500 per hectare of land in areas under assured irrigation and Rs 18,000 per hectare for all types of perennial crops will be provided to farmers who suffered crop loss of 22 per cent or above. An incentive of Rs 15,000 per farmer will be provided for those engaged in betel cultivation, while Rs 40,000 per unit will be provided for construction of shade net or thatched structure for the development of mushroom units which were destroyed in the cyclone.

An incentive of Rs 25,000 per hectare will also be provided to farmers undertaking banana cultivation. To those who lost domestic animals in the calamity, Patnaik said Rs 30,000 will be given per milch cow and buffalo, Rs 25,000 per draught animal and Rs 3,000 per goat. A financial assistance of Rs 12,000 per hectare shall be provided to fish farmers, Patnaik said. Similarly, additional seed money of Rs 10,000 will be given to the affected women self-help groups in the cyclone hit areas. About 268 common facility centres will be provided Rs 4 lakh each at the gram panchayat level in the extremely affected areas.

Patnaik also announced that 100 per cent remission in respect of cess on land for 2019-20 will be given to all the cyclone affected villages. There will be 100 per cent exemption on water rate for farmers in places where crop loss is 33 per cent or more during this year's rabi season. Cyclone Fani, which struck coastal Odisha on May 3, apart from killing 43 people, caused extensive damage to standing crops, fruit orchards, vegetable crops, plantation crops and various other cash crops. It also caused severe damage to assets and infrastructure in the farmlands. Patnaik said school examination fees up to high school level in government schools will be waived in the affected areas.

He announced that two extra pairs of school uniforms will be provided in the extremely affected areas and one extra pair in the severely affected areas to the children up to elementary school level. The chief minister launched a web portal to seek support in the aftermath of the cyclone. The website -- rebuild.odisha.gov.in -- has been developed for crowd funding of various projects in the cyclone-affected areas. Through the portal, a person can directly donate for restoration of schools and shelters and support the homeless. Contributions can also be made to the chief minister's relief fund on the website.

(With inputs from agencies.)