Jaipur, Oct. 20 -- The state's agricultural sector suffered 16.55% crop damage due to heavy rain during this year's monsoon, almost double the percentage- 8.33%- recorded last year, as per survey data from the state agriculture department. The data shows that around 2.43 million hectares of crops were damaged till September, whereas the corresponding figure in the previous year was 1.23 million hectares. Tonk fared the worst among districts, with only 70.72%, with Ajmer as a close second with 63.95%, followed by Baran, Jhalawar and Pali with 57.2%, 54.45% and 48.33% respectively. Karauli reported the least damage- with only 1.2%, as per the data. Officials said that maximum damage was faced by Moong farmers as over 80% of the total Moong produce (which is usually cultivated in western and central parts of the state) had been damaged due to heavy rains this year. Monsoon entered the state on June 1 this year as opposed to the usual schedule of June 25 to June 30, said officials. The India Meteorological Department data showed that the heavy rainfall was witnessed by the entire state from the very first day resulting in an average of massive 905 mm rainfall till September end which was about 63% more than the normal average. In view of this severe damage, the government has conducted the digital crop survey in which over 40 million farmers have made claims which are now being reviewed. An official from the agriculture minister's office, said, "Last year, around Rs.113 crores was spent for the compensation to the farmers on their crop losses. This year, at least Rs.3 crores have already been disbursed so far. The government provides about Rs.17 thousand per hectare loss of irrigated lands and Rs.8.50 thousand per hectare in non-irrigated lands." The development came amid the agriculture department's ongoing probe against three insurance companies for an alleged Rs.22 Cr fraud in PMFBY. Agriculture minister, Kirodi Lal Meena on Saturday, had said, "Over, 1.70 lakh farmers applied their claims under PMFBY scheme during Kharif 2023, Rabi 2023, Kharif 2024, and Rabi 2024. It was worth Rs.122 crore. However, these companies reduced those claims to zero and fraudulently acquired the entire amount from the government in their own pocket. We will soon lodge an FIR against those companies to initiate a formal investigation." According to the minister, a primary probe by the agriculture department have so far found over 32,000 such farmers who did not receive the claim amount despite applying for it but the money was withdrawn as per the government's record. "The department traced forged signatures of the officials of the department's district level on the clearance documents submitted to the government by these companies- based on which the government had reimbursed the money. But the farmers have never received a single payment from the scheme," Meena added....