The recent hailstorms, accompanied by relentless rainfall, has compounded the challenges faced by farmers in the plains of the Jammu region, resulting in significant damage to their standing and harvested Basmati crops. Furthermore, the vegetable crops and flowers in the Kandi belt of Jammu have also incurred damage due to hailstorms and heavy rains. Farmers have expressed growing concern about the recurring hailstorms and unseasonal rains over the past three to four years, which are increasingly affecting the entire farming community in the Jammu region. This natural calamity highlights two significant facets. Firstly, not all farmers possess crop insurance, despite the erratic climatic conditions witnessed in recent seasons. It begs the question as to why there has been insufficient emphasis on encompassing all farmers within the umbrella of insurance. Given the considerable attention directed towards schemes like the PM FasalBeemYojana, it remains perplexing that a significant portion of these farmers remain bereft of crop insurance.
Secondly, a stark discrepancy has arisen between the assessments of two key departments, SKUAST-J and Agriculture, regarding the extent of Basmati rice crop losses. This incongruity necessitates a thorough investigation to discern the underlying reasons behind these contrasting claims. The damage incurred is extensive, and it carries far-reaching consequences. A substantial portion of Basmati rice is earmarked for export, thus resulting in the forfeiture of considerable foreign exchange earnings. Furthermore, the substantial damage is poised to trigger an exponential surge in domestic market prices, affecting virtually every district. It is imperative to expeditiously conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the exact losses across multiple crops. Approximately fifty thousand hectares of farmland have been affected. The Agriculture Department should promptly guide farmers, particularly concerning their future crops. Moreover, the domains of floriculture and horticulture have also reported substantial losses. This lamentable situation is profoundly distressing for the farming community, and in these trying times, the timely provision of adequate compensation and guidance assumes paramount importance.
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