In Haryana's Jhajjar, waterlogging damages crops on 60K acres

Ravinder Saini

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Tribune News Service

Jhajjar, September 29

Bajra, cotton and paddy crops spread over 60,000 acres in the district have been damaged due to waterlogging after the rains this month, says a survey conducted by the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department.

A majority of the villages under the Salhawas block are the worst-affected while over 5,100 distressed farmers have moved applications to get compensation for the crop loss under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Beema Yojana (PMFBY). As per the survey report, the standing bajra crop spread over 35,000 acres has suffered up to 60 per cent damage due to waterlogging while about 45 per cent of the cotton and paddy spread over 12,000 and 13,000 acres, respectively, in the district has been damaged, said sources.

Assessment done

• Dr Inder Singh, Deputy Director, Agriculture, says officials have assessed the losses
• The insurer has been asked to release compensation to those enrolled under PMFBY

“My cotton crop in 4 acres has been completely destroyed as no immediate arrangement was made by the district authorities to drain out the accumulated water. The fields are still submerged. Motors have now been installed by the authorities to take out the water,” said Rajpal, a distressed farmer from Jaitpur village.

Similarly, Bhup Singh of Subana village claims that he lost his entire bajra crop spread over 2 acres. “A majority of the farmers in my village have suffered heavy losses due to the waterlogging. We are now awaiting compensation to come out of the crisis,” he said.

The survey, said the sources, reported over 80 per cent crop loss in several villages like Sarola, Mundahera, Chhapaar and Khuddan under the Salhawas block. Besides, Dhana, Chandol, Tumbaheri and Bithla villages were also badly affected by the rains.

Dr Inder Singh, Deputy Director, Agriculture, while confirming that bajra, cotton and paddy on 60,000 acres had been damaged in the district, said: “A joint team of an insurance company and our department has assessed the losses by carrying out a village-wise survey. The insurance company has been asked to release the compensation at the earliest to the farmers enrolled under the PMFBY.”

Survey findings

60% damage reported to standing bajra crop spread over 35,000 acres
45% cotton and paddy spread over 12,000 and 13,000 acres, respectively, spoiled