Small and marginal farmers will receive more financial support, the government announced last week.

Under the new initiatives, assistance for replacement of milk animals has been increased from $263 to $480 (Rs 16400 to Rs 30000) for buffalo/cow/camel/yak etc, Indian agriculture ministry said in a statement.

In case of replacement of sheep/goat, the financial assistance has been raised from $26 to $48 (Rs 1650 to Rs 3000).

Similarly, in case of replacement of draught animals,for camel/horse/bullock etc ,the quantum of financial assistance will be now $400 (Rs 25000), against of $240 (Rs 15000).

For the replacement of calf/donkey/pony/mule, the financial assistance has been raised from $160 (Rs 10000) to $256 (Rs 16000). The assistance for land and other losses due to silting of agricultural land has been increased from $129 (Rs 8100) per hectare to $192 (Rs 12200) per hectare.

It will also be applicable to removal of debris of agricultural land in hilly areas and restoration or repair of fish farms. In case of loss of substantial portion of land due to land slide, avalanche, change of course of rivers, the existing level of financial assistance has been hiked from $400 (Rs 25000) per hectare to $600 (Rs 37500) per hectare for small and marginal farmers.

The Prime Minister has already announced that the farmers will now be eligible for input subsidy if 33 percent or more of their crop is damaged, as against earlier farmers used to get input subsidy only when the crop damage was 50 percent or more.

The ministry also increased input subsidy on agriculture crops, horticulture crops and annual plantation crops from $72 (Rs 4500) per hectare to $108 (Rs 6800) per hectare in rainfed areas and restricted to sown areas. In the assured irrigated areas, it has been hiked from $144 (Rs 9000) per hectare to $216 (Rs 13500) per hectare.

In case of perennial crops, the quantum of input subsidy has been hiked from $192 (Rs 12000) to $288 (Rs 18000) per hectare. For those, engaged in sericulture, the input subsidy has been hiked from $51 to $64 (Rs 3200 - Rs 4000) per hectare to $76 to $96 (Rs 4800 – Rs 6000) per hectare.

The ministry also said that mow the norms of National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF)/ State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) will automatically be reviewed during April each year based on annual inflation derived from Wholesale Price Index and would be rounded off to next multiple of 100.

The ministry has also directed the state governments to ensure faster processing of claims under the agriculture insurance schemes.

Source - http://www.thecattlesite.com/