36,829 farmers hit: Kerala flags Rs 100 crore crop loss to Centre, seeks urgent relief

Agriculture Minister T Siddique on Friday said the preliminary estimate of crop losses caused by the ongoing rain and floods in Kerala has reached Rs 99.29 crore, while the state has sought Rs 110 crore in financial assistance from the Centre for relief and restoration measures.

Speaking to reporters, Siddique said that as of Thursday, 36,829 farmers have been affected by the rain and flooding.

"Crop damage has been reported in 3,264 hectares of agricultural land. The estimated crop loss as of Thursday evening stands at Rs 99.29 crore. This is only a preliminary assessment, and the figure is expected to increase as more reports come in," he said.

The minister said he had written to Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan seeking Rs 110 crore in immediate financial assistance.

"The assistance sought includes Rs 100 crore towards crop losses and Rs 10 crore for restoring soil fertility, restarting cultivation and providing the necessary support for farmers. One of the major problems after floods is the loss of soil nutrients, which affects future farming. We need urgent assistance to restore agricultural land and enable farmers to resume cultivation," Siddique said.

He said soil testing facilities would be established across flood-affected areas in the state to assess nutrient depletion.

"Soil testing will be carried out in all flood-affected regions, and measures to restore fertility will be implemented as a mission," he said.

He also announced that a special meeting of financial institutions, including cooperative banks, nationalised banks, the Agriculture Department, the Finance Department and other agencies, has been convened on Monday.

Replying to questions on the procedure for reporting crop losses, Siddique said farmers should first report the damage to the local Krishi Bhavan, after which officials would carry out field verification.

"Once the verification is completed and the assessment is confirmed, the details will be uploaded to the dedicated portal of the agriculture department and linked to the crop loss compensation scheme. That is the standard procedure," he said.

On being asked how long the process would take, he said it could take around three weeks but added that farmers need not wait for that period before reporting losses.

Asked whether the government would reduce the time taken for verification, Siddique said steps were being considered to expedite the process.

"We are examining ways to speed up the process immediately. We will coordinate with the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) and financial institutions. We have also sought Central assistance at the very outset. It will be a coordinated effort," he said.

On pending crop compensation, Siddique acknowledged that there was a substantial backlog.

"If my memory serves me right, compensation relating to natural disasters has been pending since 2022. There is a significant backlog. We are seriously considering measures to ensure that the pending cases are cleared without further delay," he said.

He said the Centre's natural disaster relief mechanism required a field assessment by a Central team and that the state had requested the Union government to send one immediately.

"I have requested in the letter that the Central team visit Kerala at the earliest. They can conduct physical verification in selected locations. We have specifically requested them to visit Alappuzha, Kuttanad, Wayanad, Pathanamthitta and Kottayam districts," he said.

Siddique said the government was not waiting only for Central assistance.

"We are exploring every possible option to support farmers. The meeting with financial institutions will examine all issues, including restructuring or easing loan burdens of affected farmers and facilitating fresh loans wherever required. This is the first initiative of its kind in such a situation," he said.

The minister said the state Cabinet had also approved a 25 per cent increase in compensation for crop losses caused by natural calamities, including floods.

Ahead of the Onam season, Siddique said the Agriculture Department has decided to organise 2,000 Onam markets through Horticorp and the Vegetable and Fruit Promotion Council Keralam (VFPCK) to prevent an increase in vegetable prices.

"For market intervention activities, the government has earmarked Rs 20 crore. The Chief Minister, who is also the Finance Minister, has made a special intervention to ensure price stability during the festival season," he said.

Siddique said the 'Chingam 1' celebrations would be held in Kochi on August 17 and inaugurated by Chief Minister V D Satheesan.

"This is being organised during the United Nations' Year of the Woman Farmer, and several initiatives, including the Krishi Sakhi project for women, are being implemented as part of it. According to available records, this is the first time the Chingam 1 celebrations are being held in Ernakulam district," he said.

Asked whether the celebrations should be scaled down in view of the flood situation affecting farmers, particularly in Kuttanad, Siddique said the government had considered the issue.

"Chingam 1 is a day dedicated to honouring farmers. Under no circumstances can we avoid a programme meant to recognise those who toil in the fields. We expect the flood situation to improve by August 17. At the same time, the government will take all necessary measures to reduce the financial distress faced by affected farmers," he said.