Centre extends deadline for Odisha farmers to report crop damage to January 1

Bhubaneswar, Dec 30: The Odisha government has extended the deadline for farmers to report crop damage caused by unseasonal rains and to claim compensation until January 1.

Initially set for December 29, the deadline was first extended to December 31 by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Sunday, and then further pushed to January 1 to accommodate more affected farmers, according to official sources.

Due to the significant impact of the unseasonal rains on crops, the government is taking steps to assist those affected. The Chief Minister has already visited Nayagarh, Gajapati, and Ganjam districts to assess the damage firsthand, and other ministers have also toured various impacted areas.

The assistance will be available to both insured and uninsured farmers who have experienced crop losses. Following the Chief Minister's directive, the state government requested the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Empowerment to allow more time for farmers to report their losses.

In response, the Central government has granted an additional three days, enabling farmers to notify their insurance providers about crop damage by January 1, 2025. The Chief Minister expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan for their supportive stance towards the farmers of Odisha.