Test of patience for farmers reporting loss to Agriculture Department

Deepender Deswal

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Tribune News Service

Hisar, March 7

Farmers are struggling to get registration of damaged crops done with the insurance firm after two days of rain and hail left a trail of destruction in many villages of Hisar and Bhiwani districts.

Farmers rushed to the mini-secretariat to complain about crop loss with the insurance firm. The Agriculture Department office had only one computer. Farmers complained that they were waiting with all documents since the morning to register their complaints.

According to reports from Bhiwani district, the wheat crop on 50 per cent area had suffered damage while the loss to mustard crop was higher.

“Hail has affected crops in 82 villages with crops spread over 42,000 hectares. These fields have wheat, mustard and vegetable crops,” said an Agriculture Department official.

Farmers were expecting a rich harvest of wheat and mustard this year. Favourable weather conditions before the fresh spell of rain had given them the hope of above average produce this rabi season.

“The plants cannot withstand hail and high speed wind along with rain at this stage. The crops have flattened with two consecutive spells of rain,” said Ashok Kumar of Singhani village. He said unseasonal rain was harmful to the crops.

Standing in queue at the mini-secretariat to lodge his crop damage complaint for compensation under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, Ramesh of Kapro village stated that the two-day spell of untimely rain, coupled with hail, had dashed the hopes of farmers.

“My brothers and I have wheat crop on 17 acres and have suffered around 50 per cent loss. The winds, hail and rain have flattened the wheat plants loaded with grain. Mustard fields are the worst hit with my entire crop on three acres almost finished,” he said.

In Hisar, mustard crops in Barwala, Hansi and Narnaund blocks were damaged. Farmers said the standing mustard crops, which were at the flowering stage, had been destroyed.

Farmers from Sulkhani, Bugana, Danshu, Mirzapur and Kapro complained that mustard had been damaged and yield in wheat fields was likely to fall by 75 per cent.

Vinod Phogat, Deputy Director, Agriculture, Hisar, maintained that the insurance firm and agriculture officials were deployed to ensure registration of every complaint by farmers.

Hooda demands special ‘girdawari’

Chandigarh: Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda has demanded a special survey to identify loss of crop due to the recent rain and hail. He said compensation should be given as per quantum of loss of crop and not per acre. He said farmers who had not opted for Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana should also get compensation. “This time, ripenened crop has been destroyed. The compensation should be as per crop and not per acre. A special girdawari should be ordered,” he said. TNS