Chandigarh, April 8: The Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department has mobilized over 500 officials across seven districts to evaluate the extent of crop damage caused by recent hailstorms and heavy rainfall. Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian stated Wednesday that the workforce is concentrated in the most impacted regions, including Amritsar, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Fazilka, Bathinda, Mansa, Ferozepur, and Moga.
The deployment follows a directive from Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for a “Special Girdawari” to ensure farmers receive timely financial assistance. Preliminary data suggests that the natural calamity has affected wheat cultivation across more than 1.25 lakh acres. The minister affirmed that the field teams, which include 145 Group A agriculture officers, are working in tandem with the Revenue Department to maintain accuracy during the assessment process.
“The Punjab Government stands shoulder to shoulder with farmers in this hour of crisis,” Khudian declared during a visit to affected fields in Sri Muktsar Sahib. “No stone will be left unturned to ensure that every affected farmer gets their due compensation after final reports are submitted by Deputy Commissioners.”
The minister maintained that the government is operating on a war footing to complete the transparency-focused evaluation. Beyond assessment, officials have been instructed to provide technical support to farmers to help save remaining crops. Khudian asserted that the state remains committed to compensating all losses according to established norms once the comprehensive reports are finalized.
