Maharashtra crop loss: Farm leaders demand survey by drones

With Maharashtra staring at agrarian crisis, farm activists in Nagpur on Wednesday demanded that survey of crops damd in recent unseasonal rains be conducted through drones and satellite. demand was raised by leers of 'Shetkari Sanghatna' and'Vidarbha Rajya Andolan Samiti' who std demonstrations at Nagpur district collectorate.

ir leers claimed that such surveys would cut down ministrative delays in farmers getting compensation. y also argued that farmers need to clear ir fields for Rabi (winter crop) sowing. leers demanded that affected farmers be paid a compensation of Rs 30,000 (per acre) for growers of cotton, soyabean, pdy and vegetables, and Rs 50,000 per acre for losses caused to orchards of oranges and or fruits.

Former president of Shetkari Sanghatna and conver of Samiti, Ram Neole, said many activists were detained and released later in evening. A protest was also std by former Union minister Vilas Muttemvar of Congress and Nagpur district president Vikas Thakre at Samvidhan Square in city.

As per an initial evaluation, crops like jowar, pdy, cotton, maize, tur and soyabean on 54.22 lakh hectares spre across 325 talukas in state have been damd. state government h last week anunced an immediate assistance of Rs 10,000 crore.