The Tamil Nadu government has approved Rs 289.63 crore in compensation for farmers affected by crop damage caused by the northeast monsoon in November and December 2024, along with unseasonal rainfall in January 2025. This relief package, directed by Chief Minister M. K. Stalin, is aimed at providing immediate assistance to farmers in various districts of the state.
The official press release from the Tamil Nadu government highlighted that extensive rainfall during the mentioned period led to significant harm to agricultural and horticultural crops spread across 5.66 lakh acres. Following the Chief Minister’s directives, joint surveys were carried out by the Revenue and Agriculture departments in the impacted regions.
Confirming crop damage exceeding 33%, the surveys rendered farmers eligible for compensation under disaster relief regulations. The government, based on assessments and proposals from district collectors, estimated damage to 4.90 lakh acres of crops and 76,132 acres of horticultural crops, totaling 5.66 lakh affected acres.
In response to these findings, the State government sanctioned compensation from the State Disaster Response Fund for 3.60 lakh farmers. Of the total allocated sum, Rs 254.38 crore is designated for 2.80 lakh agricultural farmers affected by heavy rainfall, with an additional Rs 35.25 crore set aside for 80,383 horticultural farmers impacted during the same period.
