Maha cotton farmers to get compensation for crop damage

Cotton growers in Indian state of Maharashtra would get compensation ranging from Rs 6,800 to Rs 37,500 per hectare depending on the extent of damage to their crops due to pink bollworm.

Cotton is cultivated on around 41 lakh hectares this year in Maharashtra, and it is estimated that 25 per cent to 50 per cent of the crop is damaged due to the pest attack.

“Cotton cultivators would get Rs 6,800 per hectare through National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) and Rs 8,000 per hectare from crop insurance,” state agriculture minister Pandurang Fundkar said, while announcing the compensation package.

The minister added that farmers would also get Rs 16,000 per hectare for up to two hectares under the Maharashtra Cotton Seeds (Regulation of Supply, Distribution, Sale and Fixation of Sale Price) Act, 2009.

Further, cotton farmers in the state would be given bonus of Rs 200 per quintal, with a maximum limit of 50 quintals, he said in the state Assembly.