Chouhan assures cash relief to frost-hit farmers in MP

Bhopal, Feb 1 (PTI) The Madhya Pradesh Chief MinisterShivraj Singh Chouhan has said that the state has neverexperienced such severity of frost that played havoc on majordamage to crops this season.

Addressing a relief distribution programme atSunwanikalan village in Panna district yesterday, the ChiefMinister told farmers to maintain calm and said the stategovernment was committed to stand firmly behind them at thetime of this agri-crisis.

Chouhan said the state government has allocated a sum ofRs 600 crore to mitigate the problems of farmers and addedthat if needed, funds would be increased for cash relief.

He said there is 100 per cent damage to ''Arhar'' crop,besides, crops of wheat, gram, potatoes, chilli and brinjal,which have also been wrecked by frost.

"For this, Rs 43 crore has been allocated for the reliefof farmers," the Chief Minister said adding the farmers whosecrops have been severely affected by the frost will be coveredunder the relief.