Pawar seeks waiver, fresh loan for flood-hit farmers
NCP president Sharad Pawar on Wednesday demanded a complete crop loan waiver for the agriculturists affected by recent deluge in western Maharashtra.
He also sought credit for the affected farmers for fresh sowing in the aftermath of unprecedented floods that have damaged crops on several thousand hectares in the region.
"Sugarcane crop on thousands of hectares has been completely destroyed. But loans taken by farmers from cooperative societies will remain. Therefore, we will urge the government to grant a complete loan waiver for the current year. We demand that a fresh crop loan be granted so that agriculturists can undertake cultivation in affected fields," said the former Union agriculture minister.
Pawar was addressing a gathering at Kavathesar village in Shirol taluka of Kolhapur district, which was worst-hit along with Sangli, after reviewing the situation.
Pawar said the erstwhile UPA government had waived farm loans to the tune of "Rs 70,000 crore" and that too .