Rain-hit farmers exempted from payment of tax on crops

Jaipur, March 13 (UNI) Farmers in Rajasthan who have suffered heavy losses due to unseasonal rains will be exempted from paying taxes on crops.

Stating this in the Assembly, the State Relief Minister Dr Kirori Lal Meena said apart from tax exemption, relief works would be started along with rephasing of cooperative loans to farmers.

Dr Meena said district collectors have already been issued instructions in this regard. All farmers who have suffered more than 50 percent losses to their crops would be given agricultural grant according to emergency relief standards.

Elaborating on the damage to crops during February-March period, Dr Meena said hailstorms have struck 1,408 villages, out of which 371 villages suffered more than 50 percent damage to crops. He said 37,868 farmers have been effected and crops spread over 29,344 hectares have been damaged.

He said the grants would be made available to farmers within a week. Till then district collectors have been disbursed Rs 617 lakh for immediate relief.

UNI