CHANDIGARH:The nonseasonal rains in Punjab have played havoc with the crops and shattered all hopes of farmers. The crops in most part of the state have deferred up to 75 percent loss. Ironically, no help is coming from Government side.
The center government has already assessed loss of crops in Haryana and allowed relaxation in moisture content for procument of wheat but no central team had yet visited Punjab and neither any relaxation in norms has been given. Beside Haryana, relaxations in procurement norms have been given in the state of Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.
The fresh spell of rain on April 15 and 16 had damaged the standing crops and wheat stocks brought to Mandis by the farmers. The procurement is yet to start. During last two days Jalandhar and Kapurthala districts have faced highest rainfall of 28.0 and 21.5 mm followed by Moga and Ropar with 16.0 and 11.o mm rainfall. In Hoshiarpur, Nawanshahr, Patiala, Fatehgarh Sahib, Barnala and Ludhiana 9 to 10 mm rainfall was recorded. Mohali Sangrur, Amritsar, Pathankot and Mansa districts have comparatively get less rainfall. Before April 2015, the state had recieved about 22 mm rainfall.
The farmers may face problem in selling the product because of discolouring of Wheat grains. The alst spell of rain would also bring down the per acre yield. Since there is no crop insurance, the farmers would have to bear the loss. The compensation by governmetn would not be anought tro set off the losses.
The reports coming from metrology department said that there were chances of less rainfall in the months of June and July during the paddy season and a drought like situation may emerge. It would be another big blow to the farmer community which would suffer heavy economic loss.
Punjab Agriculture minister Tota Singh said that he had written to center government to relax the procurement norms. The Food Corporation of India had already announed to cut the procurement trargets to 50 percent. Capt Amarinder Singh has demanded that FCI shall procure all wheat directly and norms be relaxed.
Meanwhile, according to a report published by Hindustan Tines, An El Nino condition that could weaken monsoon has set and it is known for triggering dry situations and lead to drought in India.