Hail and a lot of rain have devastated the farming sector in Madhya Pradesh. The state government pledged to compensate the impacted farms. However, the region will likely experience heavy rain over the next few days.
This week, hail and heavy rain harmed crops in 18 central and western Madhya Pradesh districts. Strong gusts and unusual rainstorms have been hitting the state since Monday, and more are expected over the coming days.
According to official sources, farmers lost between 10 and 40 per cent of their standing and freshly harvested winter crops.
To help the affected farmers, the state government has instructed the district office to determine the full extent of the damage.
The Damage in Farmers’ Opinions
“The work we put in for an entire year has been wasted. What to do at this time escapes me.” Nirakh Singh, a farmer from Neelbad near Bhopal, claimed that everything he and his family had spent money on—seeds, urea, tractor fuel, and their labour—was squandered.
The rain caused harm to half of his eight acres’ worth of wheat crops.
A second farmer in the Vidisha region, Jagannath Singh Thakur, was overcome with emotion as he witnessed the destruction of crops on large portions of his property.
The two central districts most severely affected by the hefty rains that wiped out harvests like wheat, gram, and pulses during the Rabi season are Vidisha and Rajgarh. According to the officials, the degree of harm in these two regions could reach 40%.
The devastation in western Madhya Pradesh’s Mandsaur and Neemuch was between 20 and 30 per cent. The damage could be between 15% and 20% in Bhopal, Ujjain, Ratlam, and Raisen, but only between 10-15% in Shajapur, Sehore, Narmadapuram, Agar-Malwa, Barwani, and Guna.
Assurance from the Chief Minister
Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, has promised to compensate the impacted farms.
“Our squads are out there on the field. There is a poll running. The farmer need not be concerned. You have the support of my government. Based on the survey,” he said, “the farmers will receive compensation for their lost crops.”
Concerns persist despite the Chief Minister’s assurances because the area is expected to experience significant rain over the coming days. The farmers have reservations since moisture degrades the quality of their wheat, resulting in lower prices.