In a stark reminder of nature’s unpredictability, Punjab faces a major agricultural setback as unseasonal heavy rains and hailstorms ravage wheat fields spanning 3.5 million hectares. Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian wrote to Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday, requesting a central high-level delegation for damage assessment.
What promised to be a record harvest has turned into widespread devastation. Farmers across the state are counting losses, with initial surveys revealing damage on more than 130,000 acres. The relentless weather continues to worsen the situation, potentially inflating final figures.
The fallout isn’t confined to wheat; districts including Fazilka, Ferozepur, Muktsar Sahib, Bathinda, Amritsar, Moga, and Mansa report hits to vegetables, fodder crops, and other rabi varieties. This multi-crop crisis endangers farmers’ incomes and the state’s economic backbone.
Responding swiftly, the Punjab government has ordered a comprehensive ‘Girdawari’ survey. Khudian pressed for urgent aid packages and compensation, stressing the imperative of a central team’s involvement for accurate evaluation. With state machinery fully mobilized, Punjab stands ready to collaborate for farmer relief.
