EVEN AS the Gujarat government has ordered a survey to take stock of damages suffered by farmers owing to heavy unseasonal rain around Diwali, a primary estimate suggested that it has caused damage in more than 42 lakh hectare (ha) agriculture land in more than 16000 villages in the state, Agriculture Minister Jitu Vaghani said on Wednesday.

Vaghani emphasised that the government would announce a relief package “at the earliest.” He was interacting with mediapersons while providing details about starting procurement of groundnut, soybean, moong and black beans at minimum support price ( MSP ) from November 9. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel made an announcement in this regard on Wednesday.

In view of the unseasonal rain causing widespread damage to standing crops, the state governm

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