Debt-ridden M’garh farmers hope for government help

Ravinder Saini

Tribune News Service

Mahendragarh, March 31

Surender Singh of Shayo Ramnath Pur village is distraught after his wheat crop was damaged completely following a fresh spell of rain and hailstorm on Monday.

“I have no option but to do labour work to repay a loan of Rs 1.8 lakh taken for the crop,” he said as he stared at his field covered under a white sheet of hailstones.

His story is no different from other farmers in this district.

Sunder from Aakoli village had taken Rs 1.5 loan for mustard and wheat crops. He is staring at darkness after Sunday’s hailstorm. “My wheat crop spread over 8 acres was damaged. It is beyond my comprehension what I should do to arrange food for my family,” he said.

Rain coupled with hailstorm caused extensive damage to wheat spread over thousands of acres in 21 villages of this district.

As per reports, Gadwa, Shimli, Islampur, Bhungarka, Aakoli, Molaudhi, Bhojawaas, Sheyo Ramnath Pur, Khatauli Jat, Khatauli Ahir, Dongli, Totaheri and Ekbalpur Nangli are the worst affected villages.

“After losing mustard crop in the first spell of hailstorm around a month ago, I hoped to recover the loss from the wheat crop. But the fresh spell of hailstorm has dashed our my hopes,” Surender said, adding that he was yet to repay the loan of Rs 30,000 taken last year.

Suresh of Aakauli village said, “Since agriculture is the only source of my income, the government should announce fair compensation to protect farmers from devastation.”

Ramesh of Mulaudhi village said that if the state government failed to provide fair monetary support to farmers, they would find it difficult to make both ends meet.