Chandigarh, 08 April (H.S.):

Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian has written to the Centre, urging the immediate dispatch of a high-level team to assess crop damage caused by recent heavy rains and hailstorms across the state.

In a letter to Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Khudian highlighted the adverse impact of inclement weather on wheat and other crops. He noted that wheat had been sown over nearly 35 lakh hectares this season, with expectations of a bumper yield, which have now been severely affected due to continuous rainfall and hailstorms.

According to preliminary estimates by the state agriculture department, more than 1.30 lakh acres of crops have been damaged so far. The minister warned that the extent of damage could increase further if the weather conditions persist.

Khudian added that the damage is not limited to wheat alone. Several districts including Fazilka, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Bathinda, Faridkot, Amritsar, Moga, and Mansa have reported losses to vegetables, green fodder, and other rabi crops.

He said the situation poses a serious threat to farmers’ livelihoods and the state’s agrarian economy. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab government has already ordered special girdawari (crop assessment) to evaluate the losses.

Seeking immediate relief, Khudian urged the Centre to provide compensation to affected farmers and send a central team at the earliest for a detailed assessment. He assured full cooperation from the state government in facilitating the evaluation process.

Hindusthan Samachar / GURSHARAN SINGH