Odisha CM declares December rain as natural disaster, farmers to receive compensation

Bhubaneswar, Jan 3: Chief Minister Mohan Majhi announced on Friday that the unseasonal rainfall experienced in December of last year has been classified as a natural disaster.

Speaking at the Krushi Odisha conclave, the Chief Minister stated that farmers facing crop losses exceeding 33% would receive support from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). According to reports from district collectors, a total of 666,720 farmers, including 261,000 who are covered by crop insurance, have reported significant crop losses across 226,791 hectares. He mentioned that the government would allocate ₹291.59 crore from the SDRF to compensate for the crop damage, with disbursement starting today through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

The unseasonal rainfall, which occurred in two phases from December 20 to 28, resulted in severe crop damage in several districts during the kharif harvesting season, particularly affecting Ganjam the most.

The Chief Minister had previously assured that all farmers, regardless of insurance status, would be eligible for assistance. He also undertook a comprehensive tour of Ganjam, Gajapati, and Nayagarh districts to evaluate the extent of the crop damage. Additionally, other ministers visited various rain-affected districts on December 29, 2024.

In the past week, Odisha reported the tragic deaths of six farmers, three of whom died by suicide, while the others suffered cardiac arrest due to the shock from their crop losses.