After paddy, wheat crop loss in flood-hit mand area

Four months after devastating floods swept through Sultanpur Lodhi in August, many farmers are still unable to recover from the damage caused. The floods destroyed standing paddy crops and left stretches of farmland covered in sand and silt. As a result, wheat sowing for the current season has not taken place on nearly 1,500 acres, according to data from the Agriculture Department.

The worst-affected villages include Safdarpur, Mand Goindwal, Mand Dhunda, Fateh Ali Khan Wala, Khijarpur (parts), Miani Mallah (parts), Bhaini Kadar Baksh, Rampur Gaura, among others. In Rampur Gaura, the river changed its course entirely, washing away fields and leaving the land unfit for cultivation.

Sarpanches from Baupur and Rampur Gaura confirmed that several farmers are unable to sow wheat this year as well, calling the situation a "double whammy" for families who had already suffered heavy paddy losses.

Agriculture Development Officer (ADO), Sultanpur Lodhi, Jaspal Singh, said that while 90 per cent of wheat sowing has been completed in flood-affected zones, nearly 1,500 acres remain to be sown. He added that the department has distributed 2,400 bags of wheat seed to support the affected farmers.

Meanwhile, various organisations have stepped forward to extend additional help. Farmer leaders from Ahli Kalan village said they have been receiving requests from groups eager to donate urea to assist farmers. According to department officials, an organisation from Mumbai has even offered to provide urea worth Rs 10 lakh.

"Even after four months, the support pouring in for our farmers is heartening to see," officials said, noting that continued assistance will be crucial as many families work to restore their livelihoods.

Rashpal Singh, a farmer leader from Ahli Kalan, said that the farmers from flood-affected areas have been asked to provide their proper details so that their information could be shared with organisations offering help. "Help is still coming our way and we are really thankful to everyone," he said.