Chandigarh, April 6: Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has directed state officials to conduct a special girdawari to evaluate the extent of crop damage caused by recent unseasonal weather. Over the past week, heavy rain, hailstorms, and high-velocity winds have impacted the agricultural landscape, particularly affecting the wheat crop which was nearly ready for harvest. The Chief Minister affirmed that the government is committed to providing compensation for the losses suffered by the farming community.
The weather disturbance, attributed to a powerful western system sweeping across North India, has led to significant “lodging,” or flattening, of standing crops. While the impact is widespread, the Majha and south Malwa regions have reported the most severe instances of damage. Farmers in districts including Amritsar, Bathinda, and Fazilka declared that the flattened crops are now at risk of yield loss and fungal infections, such as black point, due to the increased moisture.
Beyond the immediate physical damage to the plants, the rain is expected to stall the agricultural calendar. Although official procurement operations began on April 1, the high moisture content in the grain has delayed harvesting by an estimated two weeks. Agriculture department representatives stated that the arrival of wheat in the mandis has remained a trickle as growers wait for the fields to dry.
The special assessment aims to ensure that the compensation process is streamlined and accurate. Local authorities maintained that the teams will visit the affected villages in Tarn Taran, Muktsar, and other regions to record the impact on a field-by-field basis. The state government declared that no farmer will be left without support during this challenging period, as the transition to service-based governance remains a priority.
