Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, has instructed ministry officials to assess the impact of unseasonal rains and hailstorms on farmers’ crops in various states. He has directed officials to liaise with authorities in the affected states to gather information on the extent of the damage caused by the inclement weather. Chouhan has reassured farmers in the affected regions that the Modi government is committed to supporting them during this challenging period.
Chouhan will also engage with the agriculture ministers of the respective states to address the issue of crop damage resulting from the hailstorms and heavy rains. The unanticipated rainfall and hail in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Haryana have reportedly damaged the standing rabi crop, particularly wheat, across several districts. In Uttar Pradesh alone, over 4,053.11 hectares of land spanning 17 districts have been impacted, affecting around 14,207 farmers.
The adverse weather conditions have disrupted wheat harvesting in Punjab, causing significant concerns among farmers as the crop nears maturity. The unseasonal heavy rainfall, accompanied by hailstorms and strong winds, has led to delays in harvesting due to wet field conditions. Farmers are facing challenges in operating harvesting machinery efficiently, leading to a setback in the harvesting schedule.
The inclement weather patterns have been attributed to a western disturbance, an extratropical storm originating from regions like the Mediterranean Sea, Caspian Sea, and Black Sea. These disturbances bring sudden rain to the northwestern parts of the Indian subcontinent.
