NEW DELHI: The Rs. 16,978.69 crore Rehabilitation Package for Farmers in 31districts was worked out in consultation with the concerned States — Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Maharashtra, which reported the highest number of suicides.

The interventions for each State were specific to the requirements of the area, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram told media persons here on Friday.

The Andhra Pradesh package of Rs. 9,650.55 crore included an interest waiver of Rs. 1,436.44 crore. Loans over Rs. 5,745.76 crore would be rescheduled. The State has been provided Rs. 5,789 crore for assured irrigation— Rs. 2,561.76 crore as grant and the rest as loan under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP). In addition, Rs. 640 crore has been provided for minor irrigation, Rs. 960 crore for watershed development and checkdams, Rs. 8 crore for extension services, Rs. 470.18 crore for seed replacement, Rs. 75.30 crore for horticulture and Rs. 263.63 crore for subsidiary income through livestock, cattle and fodder. A sum of Rs. 8 crore has been provided as ex gratia assistance.

The 16 distress-prone districts identified are Prakasam, Guntur, Nellore, Chittoor, Kadapa , Ananthapur, Kurnool, Adilabad, Karimnagar, Khammam, Mahbubnagar, Medak, Nalgonda, Nizamabad, Rangareddy and Warangal.

The Rs. 2,698.64-crore package for Karnataka includes Rs. 209.81 crore as interest waiver on loans and Rs. 3 crore as ex gratia aid. Loans amounting to nearly Rs. 1,200 crore would be rescheduled. Of the Rs. 1,666.81 crore provided under assured irrigation, Rs. 725.24 crore would be grant. In addition, Rs. 424 crore would be given for micro irrigation, watershed development and check dams. A sum of Rs. 178 crore has been provided for seed replacement, Rs. 106 crore for horticulture, Rs. 3 crore for extension services and Rs. 98.87 crore for subsidiary income through livestock and cattle.

The six problem districts are Belgaum, Hassan, Chitradurga, Chikmagalur and Shimoga.

The Kerala package of Rs. 765.24 crore includes Rs. 360 crore as interest waiver and an ex gratia assistance of Rs. 1.5 crore. Loans of Rs. 815.53 crore would be rescheduled. Of the Rs. 2,177.26 crore provided for assured irrigation, Rs. 974.84 crore would be grant. In addition, Rs. 299.53 crore would be provided for micro irrigation, watershed development and checkdams. A sum of Rs. 46.33 crore has been given for horticulture, Rs. 49.43 crore for subsidiary income and Rs. 3.42 crore for seed replacement and extension services.

Distressed Kerala districts

Wayanad, Palakkad and Kasaragod are the three districts identified as distressed. For Alappuzha and Idukki, a separate package was being worked out.

A Rs. 3750 crore package for six identified districts in Maharashtra was announced in Vidharbha in July by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The revised package cleared by the Union Cabinet on Friday provides for Rs. 3,873.26 crore assistance, of which Rs. 712 crore is interest waiver and Rs. 3 crore ex gratia assistance for the families of the farmers.

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