Farmers Movement Archive

Crops on 4,290 acres damaged due to waterlogging in Rohtak

Tribune News ServiceRohtak, August 4The crops of paddy, cotton and bajra spread over a total of 4,290 acres in more than 100 villages in the district were damaged due to waterlogging in the past 10 days.Naveen Malik, Farmer, Karor villageFields submerged for 10 daysMy fields have remained submerged for over 10 days now. I drained out water once after installing pumps but another spell of rain inundated the fields again. Losses have been pegged between 20 and 70 per cent. A survey conducted by the local office of the Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department said Lakhan Majra, Sampla and Rohtak blocks were the worst affected.As per the report, waterlogging has caused up to 30 per cent damage to paddy crop in over 2,960 acres. Cotton has suffered a loss between 50 and 70 per cent in 900 acres while 60 per cent damage has been recorded in bajra crop in 430 acres.Inderjit Singh, Vice-President, All India Kisan SabhaRain wreaked havocRain has wreaked havoc on standing kharif crops in the region, exposing ‘failure’ of the district authorities to undertake timely steps to improve drainage.The local office has sent the report to the state authorities. Meanwhile, distressed farmers are also moving applications for securing compensation under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Beema Yojana (PMFBY) for the crop loss.Naveen Malik of Karor village said his fields had remained submerged for over 10 days now, causing more than 50 per cent damage to paddy and jowar crops. “I drained out water once after installing pumps but another spell of rain inundated the fields again. Many farmers in our village have suffered 100 per cent loss,” he added.Demanding adequate compensation for distressed farmers, Inderjit Singh, vice-president, All India Kisan Sabha, said rain had wreaked havoc on standing kharif crops in the region, exposing “failure” of the district authorities to undertake timely steps to improve drainage.Dr Inder Singh, Deputy Director (Agriculture), said: “A team led by the ADO concerned at the block level was formed to conduct the survey for assessing losses due to waterlogging. Insurance company has also initiated loss-assessment process for awarding compensation to farmers under the PMFBY,” he added.

The Tribune

2021-08-05