Lok Sabha Question No. 298 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-04-26
Subject: Loss of Crops
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: NARANBHAI KACHHADIA, RAHUL KASWAN, BHEEMRAO BASWANTHRAO PATIL, DALPAT SINGH PARASTE, RANGASWAMY DHRUVANARAYANA, KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR, CHANDRA PRAKASH JOSHI, DILIP KUMAR MANSUKHLAL GANDHI

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

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 298

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 26 TH  APRIL, 2016

## LOSS OF CROPS

## 298.      SHRI NARANBHAI KACHHADIYA:

SHRI RAHUL KASWAN:

SHRI BHEEMRAO B. PATIL:

SHRI DALPAT SINGH PARASTE:

SHRI R. DHRUVA NARAYANA:

SHRI KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR:

SHRI CHANDRA PRAKASH JOSHI:

SHRI DILIPKUMAR MANSUKHLAL GANDHI:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ षि एवं ककसान कल्याण मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  standing/ready  to  harvest  agricultural  crops  including  wheat  have  been adversely  damaged  recently  in  various  parts  of  the  country  due  to  unseasonal  rain  and hailstorm and drought;
- (b) if so, the details of crop losses reported in the country and estimated monetary losses suffered  by  the  farmers  due  to  damage  of  such  crops  and  compensation  given  to  them, State-wise;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to launch any campaign/issue advisory to prevent loss of Rabi and Kharif crops in the event of natural calamities such as unseasonal rain and hailstorm in the country; and
- (d) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  steps  taken/being  taken by  the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ षि एवं ककसान कल्याण मंत्राऱय में राज्य मंत्री (SHRI  MOHANBHAI  KUNDARIYA)

- (a) & (b): During the Rabi season of 2015-16, western disturbances led to hailstorm/unseasonal rains and high velocity winds in various parts of the country causing damage to crops.  As per reports, an area of 6.02 lakh hectare was damaged/affected under different crops due to unseasonal rains/hailstorms/winds and lodging to the crops, mainly in wheat, was reported in an area of 9.04 lakh hectare.  Thus total area of 15.06 lakh hectare was affected in different magnitude.

The State Government is primarily responsible for taking necessary relief measures in the wake of natural calamities.  For undertaking relief measures, funds are available with the State Government in the form of State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF).  Additional financial assistance,  over  and  above  SDRF,  is  considered  from  National  Disaster  Response  Fund (NDRF) for natural calamities of severe nature and is approved on the basis of Memorandum received from State Government in accordance with established procedure.

During  Rabi  season  Government  of  Karnataka  has  reported  drought  and  submitted Memorandum  seeking  financial  Assistance  of  Rs.1417.14  crore  from  National  disaster Respond Fund (NDRF) and reported that a total of 22.33 lakh hectare land suffered crop loss of 33% and above.  Government of Rajasthan and Haryana have reported loss/damage due to  Hailstorm  during  February/March  2016.    However,  no  Memoranda  have  been  received from these States.

(c) & (d): The multi-departmental Crop Weather Watch Group (CWWG), is meeting every week to review crop, rainfall, water storage and input availability over the country.  Weekly video conference with States is also being held to provide support and advice appropriately, as and when required.

Ministry through m-kisan portal sends SMS advisory to registered farmers. These advisories include weather based SMS advisories, advisories to suggest measures to minimize adverse impact of extreme weather event.

Central Research Institute of Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA), in collaboration with State Agricultural  Universities  has  prepared  contingency  plan  for  600  districts  for  implementing location  specific  interventions  to  sustain  agriculture  production  in  the  eventuality  of  any extreme climatic events.

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