Drought in HP; Government announces Rs 3 crore relief

Shimla, May 10 (UNI) The Himachal Pradesh Government has released a sum of Rs three crore to the farmers whose crops were damaged due to drought conditions prevailing in the state, Agriculture Minister Raj Krishan Gaur today said.

Necessary directions have also been issued to concerned district officers in this regard, he said, adding that 50 per cent of the sanctioned amount would be spent on providing subsidy on seeds to the affected small and marginal farmers.

Mr Gaur said the department was also providing 15,000 quintal of hybrid maize, 800 quintal of pulses, 400 quintal of oil seeds, 5,500 quintal of peas, 300 quintal of vegetable seeds, 1,000 quintal of ginger, 2,500 quintal of fodder seed and 17,000 quintal of potato seeds on subsidized rates to farmers during the season.

Since the sowing of kharif crops was undertaken in May and June in the state, more than eight lakh farmers would be benefited due to this, he added.

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