Bhubaneswar, 11/11: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today announced a package of assistance for those affected by the recent cyclonic storm Bulbul that hit the state on Saturday.

Agriculture input subsidy will be provided to small and marginal farmers who have sustained crop loss of 33 percent and above at the rate of Rs 6800 per hectare of land in  rainfed/non irrigated area, Rs 13,500 per hectare of land in areas under assured irrigation, and Rs 18,000 per hectare for all types perennial crops that include mango, cashew nut, coconut betel vines etc. The assistance will be provided to actual cultivators, the chief minister clarified.

Agricultural input subsidy to any affected farmer shall not be less than Rs 2000 for perennial crops and Rs 1,000 for other crops.

Fifty thousand seed mini kits of pulses and oilseeds will bre supplied to the affected farmers during the coming Rabi crop. Forty five thousand acres of demonstration programmes of different crops will be taken up in affected districts in the Rabi season.

Expeditious steps will be taken to conduct crop cutting experiments to settle the claims of the affected insured farmers under crop insurance scheme Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana with risks of localized calamity and mid-season adversity as per revised operational guideline of the scheme.

Short term Rabi loans advanced to those who have suffered crop loss of 33 percent and above will be converted into medium term loans.