The Nashik district administration has said that untimely rain and hailstorms in two phases in the first week of April damaged crops on over 43,000 hectares, affecting 79,000 farmers. The officials have requested the government to provide an assistance of Rs770 mln (€8.5 mln) for the affected farmers.
The extent of the damage to crops has been estimated at 33 percent. Some crops have been damaged completely. Altogether 64,978 farmers in 669 villages spread across 37,546 hectares suffered a loss of about Rs640 mln. Similarly, 14,460 farmers cultivating perennial crops have also suffered damage for which a compensation of Rs130 mln has been sought.
The Agriculture Department said onion crops on 35,290 hectares, grapes on 3,410 hectares, pomegranates on 1,092 hectares and mangoes on 1,238 hectares were damaged.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com