Jharkhand offers Rs.410 crore relief package to farmers

Ranchi, July 30 (IANS) 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 Monday.

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

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

"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 Monday.

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.