Rain, hail damaged up to 50% crops on 12,000 acres: Haryana Agriculture Dept

Praveen Arora

Karnal, March 3

In the aftermath of severe rain and hailstorm that struck the state on Saturday, the agriculture department in its initial report today said crops on 12,000 acres have suffered loss between 26% and 50%.

As adverse weather conditions left fields inundated as well as flattening and breaking the crops, farmers urge the government for conducting a special girdawari to compensate them. The IMD said Karnal has recorded 43.2mm rainfall till Sunday morning.

The Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department has conducted a survey and initial report indicates that crops including wheat, mustard, vegetable, garlic and others on nearly 12000 acres have recorded a loss from 26% to 50%, while crops on nearly 15000 acres witnessed losses up to 25%.

“Our teams visited villages and prepared a report. The initial report indicates that nearly 12,000 acres have suffered loss between 26% and 50%. We will send our report to the government for further process,” said Wazir Singh, Deputy Director Agriculture.

Bal Kisan, a farmer and former sarpanch of Mohidinpur, said the rain along with hailstorm has damaged his wheat and garlic crop badly. The hail storm has broken garlic that was at the ripening stage. “I along with scores of farmers of my area have suffered huge losses due to rain and hailstorm. The government should compensate the farmers by conducting a special girdawari,” he said.

Rajinder, a farmer of Assandh block, said stems of wheat crop have been broken due to the hailstorm. “We demand the government to take note of this natural disaster and compensate the farmers for the losses,” he said.

Assandh MLA and Congress leader Shamsher Singh Gogi also demanded the government to conduct a special girdawari and compensate the farmers. He demanded at least Rs 50,000 per acre compensation for farmers.

“Rain with hailstorm has damaged wheat, mustard and other vegetable crops across the state. My own assembly constituency has been affected badly, so I demand the government to conduct a special girdawari to compensate farmers. I seek Rs 50,000 per acre as compensation,” said the MLA.