Chandigarh, September 5: With more than four lakh acres of farmland submerged in Punjab after the recent floods, the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian has asked and press the Centre for urgent relief, seeking a massive financial package, and an enhanced compensation to save the backbone of India’s food security.
Khudian joined Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on a visit to flood-hit districts of Amritsar, Gurdaspur, and Kapurthala on Wednesday. He said the devastation threatens not only Punjab’s rural economy but also the nation’s central food pool.
“Punjab’s contribution to the nation’s food security cannot be overlooked,” Khudian said, noting that paddy fields—just weeks away from harvest—were the worst hit. “The floods have caused unprecedented destruction of crops, livestock, and infrastructure. The state’s economic backbone is under immense strain, and farmers are suffering.”
Upon Chouhan’s arrival at the Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport in Amritsar, Khudian briefed him on the scale of losses. Preliminary reports suggest that standing crops on more than four lakh acres have been inundated. With agriculture forming the lifeline of Punjab’s economy, the Minister stressed that both immediate relief and long-term support are critical.
Khudian said compensation for crop damage, currently fixed at Rs 6,800 per acre, is grossly inadequate. “Given the losses our farmers face, the Centre must raise this to at least Rs 50,000 per acre,” he urged.
In addition to revising compensation rates, Khudian demanded that the Central Government release Rs 8,000 crore pending under the Rural Development Fund (RDF) and Market Development Fund (MDF). These funds, he argued, are vital for rebuilding the state’s agricultural infrastructure and sustaining the rural economy.
“The floods have inflicted damage far beyond individual farms,” he noted. “The impact runs through villages, livestock, and the entire economy. Punjab needs a special package to overcome this disaster.”
As the assessment of damages continues, Khudian’s appeal underscores the growing concern that without significant intervention from the Centre, the crisis could deal a lasting blow to Punjab’s farmers and the country’s food reserves.
