Untimely rain, hailstorm damage crops in Ambala, Kurukshetra

Untimely rains coupled with hailstorm have left wheat, oilseed and vegetable farmers worried in Ambala and Kurukshetra.

The farmers said rain on Friday evening, accompanied with hailstorm, severely damaged mustard, potato, and wheat crops in hundreds of acres and the farmers may suffer heavy losses.

Gurmeet Singh, a farmer from Majri village, said, “Mustard and vegetable crops have been severely damaged and the situation is not good for wheat and fodder, too. The exact loss will be clear by Saturday. The government should get a girdawari conducted and provide relief to the farmers.”

A potato farmer from Shahabad, Rakesh Bains, said, “The rain at this point is harmful for wheat, potato, oilseed and vegetables. Potato and mustard are at a harvesting stage, while the recently sown sunflower crop has also suffered damage. The farmers have to sow the sunflower seeds again. It will increase the cost of production.”

BKU (Charuni) Ambala district president Malkit Singh said, “There are reports of crops suffering damage from Majri, Mohri, Kesri, Ugala, Landa, Dinarpur, Barara, Mallour and other villages of Ambala. Farmers in Shahabad and other parts of Kurukshetra have also suffered losses. The government should announce a compensation and get a survey conducted at the earliest.”

Meanwhile, the Deputy Director Agriculture, Ambala, Dr Jasvinder Singh, said, “Hailstorm and rain is not good for matured oilseed crops and vegetables. Sunflower farmers have time till March 10, and they can sow sunflower again. The report regarding losses will be clear by Saturday evening.”