Gandhinagar, Oct 26: The Gujarat government on Monday declared four districts — Kutch, Jamnagar, Devbhoomi Dwarka and Porbandar — drought-hit, and simultaneously announced crop-loss assistance for farmers, cattle support and additional employment in the affected districts, The Hindu BusinessLine reported.

Source: The Hindu BusinessLine

"Despite 89 per cent average rainfall in the state, rainfall has been inadequate in Devbhoomi Dwarka, Porbandar, Kutch and Jamnagar," Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel told reporters in Gandhinagar on Monday after a high-level meeting, underlining how unevenly this monsoon was spread across the state.

Under the relief package, farmers will receive Rs 8,500 per hectare for affected crops, subject to a maximum of two hectares — yaani, up to Rs 17,000 per farmer — with the assistance provided under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), the chief minister said.

Rs 8,500per hectare crop assistance (max 2 hectares)
89%state average rainfall this monsoon
Rs 80per cattle per day, for two months
150 daysemployment from November 1

For livestock owners, cattle kept in relief camps in the four districts will receive Rs 80 per animal per day for two months. On fodder, Patel said subsidised distribution had been authorised since June-July 2026, with 1.21 crore kg already distributed at Rs 2 per kg, and the government currently holds a stock of 3 crore kg, with provisions for more if required.

The state has also decided to expand employment support in the affected districts: under the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar & Ajeevika Mission (VB-G RAM G) scheme, 150 days of employment will be provided from November 1, Patel said.

The declaration follows weeks of pressure over the rain deficit in Saurashtra and Kutch. On October 22, Congress MP and the party's Gujarat in-charge Randeep Surjewala had demanded a drought declaration and higher compensation, claiming Devbhoomi Dwarka had received 84 per cent below-normal rainfall while Porbandar and Jamnagar recorded large deficiencies — figures the opposition cited as claims at a press conference in Rajkot, PTI reported. In September, the state government had told the Assembly that rainfall deficiency alone would not trigger a drought declaration and that crop conditions would be assessed first.