Cotton crop hit by whitefly, girdawari must: Minister

Tribune News Service

Hisar, September 6

Agriculture Minister JP Dalal has said that preliminary survey reports have suggested considerable loss to the cotton crop on account of whitefly and other diseases such as parawilt and leaf curl. He demanded a special girdawari to assess the damage.

“Every affected farmer will be compensated. About 50 per cent of farmers have their cotton crop insured under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana. They will get the insurance claim. Those who did not opt for the scheme will be compensated by the state government,” the minister said here on Sunday.

Official-insurance firm nexus claimed

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There is a nexus between revenue officials and insurance firms. They have deliberately shown losses below 25 per cent so that farmers cannot claim compensation. —Sampat Singh, Former minister

This season, about 7.37 lakh hectares are under cotton cultivation across the state.

Farmers have been demanding a girdawari, while unions have launched an agitation seeking compensation for crop failure.

The minister said, “I had a word with Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala, who holds the revenue portfolio, on the situation. Deputy Commissioners have been told to submit reports on crop loss. The Agriculture Department has sent the preliminary report to the government. I hope it will soon order a girdawari.”

Kisan Sabha state president Phool Singh Sheokand said, “The extent of financial loss is yet to be assessed, but it is apprehended to be more than Rs 1,100 crore suffered in 2015-16.”