Unseasonal rains damage crops in Gujarat; special package announced for onion and potato farmers

The affected areas are Saurashtra, North and Central Gujarat districts; survey on crop losses will be done by State

Unseasonal rains in over 100 talukas across Gujarat have damaged standing Rabi crops, adding to the woes of farmers and aggravating the crisis in over a dozen rural districts.

The rains at the time of harvest have damaged a number of crops in Saurashtra, North and Central Gujarat districts.

In the last few days, heavy rain was reported in parts of Rajkot, Amreli and Bhavnagar districts, while light to moderate showers drenched many other places in the Saurashtra region.

Rains accompanied by strong winds and thunderstorms lashed Rajkot city, parts of Dhari, Savarkundla, Damnagar, and Lathi talukas of Amreli district, triggering serious concern among mango growers in the region.

Amidst reports of extensive damage to the standing crops, the State government on Tuesday ordered a survey on crop losses caused due to unseasonal rains in the affected districts of the State.

In the State Assembly, Agriculture Minister Raghavji Patel said that the survey would be done once the rains stopped.

“There is a forecast for unseasonal rains for the next two days and so we will get a final report on crop loss from the districts after that,” the Minister said.