The Tamil Nadu government has stepped in with substantial financial aid for farmers reeling from extensive crop damage caused by adverse weather conditions. The state has sanctioned a significant sum of ₹289.63 crore from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) to provide relief.
Assessment of Widespread Agricultural Damage
This relief package comes in the wake of a dual weather crisis. First, heavy rains lashed the state during November and December 2024. This was followed by unexpected and damaging unseasonal rainfall in January 2025. The cumulative effect of these events devastated both agricultural and horticultural crops across vast areas.
To gauge the exact scale of the loss, revenue and agriculture department officials conducted thorough field assessments in all impacted districts. The process focused on identifying areas where crop damage exceeded the critical threshold of 33%. Based on these ground reports, district collectors submitted detailed relief proposals for review and approval.
Breaking Down the Relief Package
The official assessment confirmed the staggering extent of the damage. A total of 5.66 lakh acres of farmland were affected. This includes 4.90 lakh acres under agricultural crops and another 76,132 acres under horticultural crops.
Acting on the directives of Chief Minister M K Stalin, the government issued a formal Government Order to release the funds. The approved ₹289.63 crore is earmarked to support a massive 3.60 lakh farmers who have suffered losses.
The allocation has been carefully divided to address specific needs:
- ₹254.38 crore is designated for approximately 2.80 lakh farmers who experienced losses in agricultural crops.
- ₹35.25 crore is allocated for about 80,383 farmers engaged in horticulture.
Government's Commitment to Farmer Welfare
Commenting on the relief measure, State Agriculture Minister M R K Panneerselvam emphasized the administration's proactive approach. He stated that the government, under the leadership of CM Stalin, is consistently committed to providing prompt assistance and appropriate relief to farmers affected by natural calamities.
This substantial financial package aims to alleviate the immediate distress of the farming community and help them recover from the significant losses incurred due to the unpredictable weather patterns. The swift sanction of funds underscores the state's priority on agricultural welfare and disaster management.
