BHOPAL: In a significant move to support farmers facing crop damage, the Madhya Pradesh government has disbursed Rs 653 crore as compensation for losses caused by excess rainfall and the Yellow Mosaic Virus.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced that the virus had affected crops across nearly 3, 00, 000 hectares in 12 districts of the state.
"This is the first time the compensation amount has been disbursed before the crop reached the market, " CM Yadav told farmers through video conferencing, and assured them similar support in future.
He also confirmed that the Bhavantar scheme, which covers price differences, will be available to further support farmers.
Preliminary reports indicate that the virus has spread across major pulse-growing regions.
In Burhanpur, a banana farmer received as much as Rs 3.6 lakh, highlighting the scale of individual losses.
A total of 8, 84, 880 farmers from 3, 554 villages received compensation for crop damage across 6, 52, 865 hectares.