J'khand govt to compensate storm effected farmers

Ranchi, Feb 19 (UNI) The Jharkhand government today announced compensation for the farmers, affected in last week's hailstorm, from the disaster management fund.

State Agriculture Minister Nalin Soren said adequate compensation would be given to the farmers whose crops were devasted by the hailstorm.

Mr Soren made the announcement after inaugurating the Agrotech-2007 organised at the Birsa Agriculture University here.

About 90 per cent of the total agriculture produce, including vegetables and wheat crops, was damaged in places like Lohardega, Saraikela, Palamu, Garwah, Bokaro, Hazaribagh, Giridih, Dhanbad and Deoghar districts.

The rainfall during the period was recorded at 45 mm and temperature dropped in all the districts of Jharkhand except Jamtara and West Singhbhum.

According to Birsa Agricultural University scientist A Wadood, the hailstorm had affected most of the crops in different areas of the state.

At Pithoria in the state capital, about two feet of ice covered the entire fields damaging almost cent per cent of the produce in the area.

Meanwhile, the cost of vegetables soared following the storm.

UNI