State Agriculture department is conducting a survey to ascertain the quantum of damage to paddy cultivation in various districts caused by the cyclone 'Fani' that hit the state late Friday night. State Agriculture department has instructed its officials to carry out a detailed survey, to ascertain the loss which paddy farmers faced in the districts immediately the incident happened. Following the instruction from the department, the officials started visiting various villages and examining the paddy fields. The officials will also examine to ascertain whether the farmers producing other food grains had suffered any such loss. The department may extend financial assistance to the farmers who have incurred loss due to the severe cyclone. The effect of the cyclone in the state was less as it lost the intensity while entering Bengal. The department officials have already started the survey works. They have been visiting all the districts which were hit by the cyclone. After assessing the situation the department officials will submit to the state agriculture minister. The final decision on the financial assistance will be taken after examining the survey report in detail. "The paddy farmers in various districts have lost their crops due to the cyclone. The farmers who are among the worst-hit are from the districts of East Midnapore, East Midnapore, Murshidabad, Birbhum and Nadia. We are considering how they can be compensated after going through the report," a senior official of the department said. The department is also chalking out an elaborate plan on how to extend financial assistance to the farmers in the cyclone affected districts. The district and the block level officers are carrying out the survey not only to ascertain the loss and also identify the beneficiaries who are entitled to get the compensation. State government introduced various schemes to protect the farmers from incurring any loss caused by such incidents. It may be mentioned that Bengal is the first state in the country to introduce crop insurance scheme, where the beneficiaries will not have to pay any amount as insurance premium in case of any natural disaster. Source - http://www.millenniumpost.in/