Jammu, Oct 13: Unseasonal rainfall, hailstorms and strong winds have damaged standing basmati paddy crops in the Marh area of Jammu district, leaving farmers worried about heavy losses and prompting them to seek compensation from the administration.
Farmers said the sudden change in weather struck when the crop was nearing harvest, damaging plants and affecting their prospects of recovering the money invested in cultivation.
Dayaram, a farmer from the region said that the heavy rainfall followed by hailstorms and strong winds had destroyed his crop.
“It rained heavily here, followed by hailstorms and strong winds, which completely destroyed our crops. We have suffered 100 per cent crop loss. This year, we were expecting a bumper harvest because the rainfall had been good and the crops were growing well. But the unseasonal rain and hailstorms destroyed everything,” he said.
Farmers said the damage had come as a major setback after months of work and expenditure on seeds, fertilisers, pesticides, irrigation and labour.
They said the loss of standing basmati paddy could affect their household incomes, particularly for those who depend largely on agriculture for their livelihood.
The affected farmers urged the administration to assess the damage promptly and provide compensation to families whose crops had been destroyed.
They also sought the involvement of the Agriculture Department and revenue officials in conducting field inspections to establish the extent of the losses.
“We have spent money throughout the season, hoping to recover our investment through the harvest. Now, with the crop damaged, we are worried about how we will meet our household expenses and repay what we owe,” a farmer said.
Another farmer said the damage had come at a time when cultivators were preparing for harvesting and expecting returns from their fields.
“Farmers depend on the crop for their livelihood. We request the government to send officials to the affected fields, assess the damage and provide relief without delay,” he said.
Farmers said timely compensation was necessary to help them manage the financial setback and prepare for the next agricultural season.
They appealed to the authorities to ensure that the assessment covered all affected fields and that eligible cultivators received assistance under the applicable crop-loss relief and insurance provisions.
The extent of the damage and the number of farmers affected were not immediately available.
There was no official estimate of the crop loss available at the time of filing this report. (KNO)
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