Punjab, Haryana farmers fret over damaged wheat

Manav Mander & Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, March 14

With rain and hail damaging wheat, potato and mustard crops, farmers in Ludhiana district, particularly those in the vicinity of Samrala, are demanding a special girdawari for compensation. “Untimely rains have caused extensive damage. In Samrala areas hit by hailstorm, the standing crop has been ruined,” said HS Lakhowal, general secretary, BKU (Lakhowal).

“While strong winds have flattened standing wheat, the potato crop has been damaged completely,” said Labh Singh, a farmer from Ajlaud village near Samrala. Hakam Singh from a village near Sahnewal said crop yield was bound to fall by 4-5 quintals per acre. Prabhjot Kaur, Climate Change and Agrometrology, PAU, Ludhiana, said the university had forewarned wheat farmers not to irrigate their fields. “Those who ignored the advice will suffer with stagnant water weakening the roots. Low-lying areas will be hit too. Damage has been caused not by rain or hail, but high-velocity winds that flattened the crop. This will result in poor-quality grain,” she said.

Bir Talab, Sivian, Naruana, Multania and Budhladhewala villages in Bathinda as well as Fazilka district too have been hit. Bathinda DC B Srinivasan said he had asked agriculture officials to assess the crop loss. “We expect a report by tomorrow morning”, he said.

“Not only will harvesting be delayed, but will also cost more.This means more trouble for farmers who are already under debt,” Shingara Singh Mann, BKU Ekta Ugrahan district chief, told The Tribune.

In Haryana wheat crop in Yamunanagar, Karnal and Kurukshetra has been damaged extensively.