Lok Sabha Question No. 348 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-07-19
Subject: Crop Loss in Kuttanad and Palakkad Regions
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Suresh Kodikunnil, Vellalath Kochukrishnan Nair. Sreekandan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.348

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 19 TH  JULY, 2022

## CROP LOSS IN KUTTANAD AND PALAKKAD REGIONS

348. SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH: SHRI V.K. SREEKANDAN:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  the  large-scale  losses  repeatedly  suffered  by paddy cultivators of Kuttanad and Palakkad regions of Kerala due to unexpected torrential rains, floods and untimely rains in the summer season;

(b) if so, whether the Kerala Government has sought action/help for paddy cultivators of these regions;

(c) if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether it is also a fact that the affected farmers in the districts have been demanding compensation for the loss suffered by them and demanded increase of the procurement price for their paddy produce;

(e)  whether  the  Government  has  allocated  any  special  compensation  package  for  the paddy cultivators in the last three financial years or in the current year to subsume their losses; and

(f) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

(a) to (f): Crop  area  affected  due  to  hydro-meteorological  calamities/hazards  during 2021-22 in Kerala was 0.85 lakh hectares. However, Kerala has not reported crop area affected due to hydro-meteorological calamities/hazards during 2020-21 and 2022-23 (as on 15.07.2022).

The primary responsibility for disaster management rests with the State Governments.  The State Governments provide financial relief to the affected people in the  wake of notified disasters from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), already placed at their disposal. However, in the event of disaster of a severe nature, additional financial assistance is extended from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), as per the laid down procedure, which includes an assessment based on the visit of an InterMinisterial Central Team (IMCT). Under the extant guidelines of SDRF and NDRF, relief is provided to the affected people for the damages caused due to notified natural calamities and not for compensation of loss suffered/claimed. Details of Funds allocated/released to the State Government of Kerala under SDRF from 2020-21 to 2022-23, are as under:

(Rs. in Crore)

| Year    | Allocation under SDRF   | Allocation under SDRF   |
|---------|-------------------------|-------------------------|
|         | Central Share           | State Share             |
| 2020-21 | 251.20                  | 84.00                   |
| 2021-22 | 251.20                  | 84.00                   |
| 2022-23 | 264.00                  | 88.00                   |

The  State  Government  of  Kerala  has  not  submitted  any  memorandum  seeking financial assistance from NDRF for hydro-meteorological calamities/hazards during 202021, 2021-22 and 2022-23 (so far).

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