State Government Sanctions ₹4,194 Crore Relief Package for Cotton and Soybean Farmers
The state government has sanctioned substantial financial assistance for cotton and soybean farmers adversely affected by price declines in the preceding year. To alleviate the repercussions of these losses, the government unveiled a financial relief package intended to aid cotton and soybean cultivators for the kharif marketing season 2023-24. This relief package encompasses a grant of ₹5,000 per hectare, with a ceiling of two hectares per farmer. The government has sanctioned a proposal to extend financial assistance in two strata: ₹1,000 per hectare for areas under 0.2 hectares and ₹5,000 per hectare for areas exceeding 0.2 hectares, up to a maximum of two hectares. As the GR was issued on July 29, the precise amount expended for Vidarbha farmers remains unascertained, according to officials. “Nevertheless, the process has commenced at district levels across both divisions in Vidarbha. We will have to initiate from the very beginning, which entails compiling a list of eligible farmers, among other tasks,” an official said. The government has allocated a total expenditure of ₹4,194.68 crore to effectuate this financial assistance scheme. Of this, ₹1,548.34 crore is apportioned for cotton farmers, while ₹2,646.34 crore is earmarked for soybean growers. The funding will be deployed during the additional budget presented on July 5, underpinning the special action plan formulated to augment the productivity and value chain of cotton, soybean, and other oilseed crops. Eligibility for this financial support is clearly delineated: Cotton and soybean farmers who cultivated their crops during the 2023 kharif season are entitled to get ₹1,000 per hectare for areas under 0.2 hectares and ₹5,000 per hectare for areas up to 2 hectares. The scheme is anticipated to buttress the growth of the agricultural sector, reinforcing the government’s dedication to addressing the exigencies of the farming community.
