Crop loss due to rainfall, hailstorm in parts of Ambala, Kurukshetra

AMBALA/KURUKSHETRA: Recent unseasonal rainfall and hailstorms have caused significant damage to wheat, mustard, sunflower, and vegetable crops in parts of Ambala, Kurukshetra and Yamunanagar districts.

Farmers have demanded a girdawari (crop loss assessment) and compensation for their losses. The Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) Charuni has called for compensation of Rs 50,000 per acre for the damage incurred.

Farmers reported substantial losses, particularly of harvested mustard and newly sown sunflower crops in the low-lying areas of Shahabad and Babain in Kurukshetra district. Additionally, crops such as wheat, potatoes, capsicum, and tomatoes have been adversely affected in these districts.

The BKU Shaheed Bhagat Singh submitted a memorandum of demands to the Ambala City magistrate, addressed to Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini, seeking compensation for the crop losses.

Extent of crop damage
Deputy director of agriculture (DDA), Ambala, Jasvinder Singh Saini, provided a preliminary assessment of the damage:

·Wheat: 0-25% damage in 24,000 acres; 26-50% damage in 10,000 acres.

·Mustard: 0-25% damage in 1,200 acres; 26-50% damage in 4,400 acres; 51-75% damage in 250 acres.

·Other crops: 0-25% damage in 2,500 acres; 26-50% damage in 1,500 acres.

DDA Ambala stated that farmers with insured crops will receive compensation through the agriculture department via the insurance company. For uninsured farmers, the state government has launched the A-kshatipurti (loss compensation) portal to facilitate claims.

DDA Kurukshetra, Karam Chand, reported crop losses in the Babain and Shahabad areas:

·Wheat: 0-25% damage in 6,500 acres.

·Mustard: 0-25% damage in 3,500 acres.

·Sunflower: 0-25% damage in 4,000 acres.

No significant crop losses have been reported from other blocks of the district, including Ladwa, Pehowa, Ismailabad, and Thanesar.

“Recently sown sunflower crops have been damaged as pods shattered due to localized hailstorms and waterlogging in low-lying areas,” said DDA Kurukshetra.

DDA Yamunanagar, Aditya Dabbas, confirmed losses in vegetable crops and stated that a detailed report is being prepared.

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