Agriculture Deptt making assessment for compensation
Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Oct 19: The recent hailstorm coupled with incessant rains has added to woes of farmers in plains of Jammu region as their standing and harvested Basmati crop has suffered a considerable damage.
Besides, the Basmati the vegetable crop as well as flowers in Kandi belt of Jammu also got damaged due to hailstorm and heavy rains. The farmers said that the hailstorm coupled with unseasonal rains continuously during last three to four years is becoming a cause of worry for farming community in entire Jammu region. This can be a cause of climatic change and the Government should ask the Agriculture Universities to conduct research and issue advisories to farmers regarding the impact of climatic change on crops, they said.
Officials sources said as per assessment of the Agriculture Department, the Basmati crop on 32000 hectares in Jammu district, 10,000 hectares in Samba and on 5000 hectares in Kathua district has suffered damage in the rains and hailstorm. The Department said that overall loss is 60 percent in the three districts.
Sources said to make complete assessment of the loss, Department has started the process and its officials are doing the filed survey. Though the farmers who are covered under Fasal Bhima Yojna of Prime Minister will get the insurance cover but those not are eyeing on Government for compensation.
Sources said 25 percent of total farmers are covered under Fasal Bhima Yojna while 75 are not.
The farmers said that in Jammu and Samba districts, the paddy crop has suffered a heavy loss and their hopes of a good harvest have dashed to ground. Both standing Basmati crop as well as harvested crop which was lying in fields got damaged due to heavy rains and hailstorm, they added seeking an immediate compensation from the Government.
The farmers said that 370 variety of Basmati which is being cultivated by them right from Akhnoor to Kathua has been damaged and even the vegetable crop like Kadam, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Turnip, Radish, Spinach (Palak) etc which were sown recently got totally damaged after the fields submerged in rain water for days together.
District Development Council (DDC), Member, Marh, Balbir Lal said that in addition to Basmati crop and vegetables the flower crop in Kandi belt also suffered a damage due to unseasonal rains and hailstorm. The Government should immediately sanction the compensation for those farmers whose crops are not insured while the insurance companies should take immediate steps in finalising the cases.
He said the team of Agriculture Department visited the areas along border belt of Jammu to assess the loss and it is hoped that the Department will take steps in granting compensation to affected farmers so that they are in a position to sow the Rabi crop.
He regretted that all farmers in Jammu are not covered under Fasal Bhima Yojna and appealed the farming community to get their crops insured under the PM’s novel scheme so that under the natural calamities they get the compensation for the damage suffered to the crops and they are relieved of the worries caused otherwise to them.
Showing serious concern over the damage suffered to the crops especially Basmati in border belt, DDC Chairman, Samba, Keshaw Dutt Sharma said in his district about 50 percent crops were damaged due to hailstorm and unseasonal rains. He said he had taken up the issue with Deputy Commissioner, Samba and he deputed a team of Revenue Officers to assess the loss. Moreover, the Agriculture Department officials also visited the area and submitted their report about the loss which is grave.
Kissan Advisory Board Member, Tejinder Singh Wazir said that Basmati, crop both standing and harvested in the districts of Jammu, Samba and Kathua has been damaged due to recent rains and hailstorm. Besides, the newly sowed vegetable crop and flowers as well as standing crop of flowers also suffered a heavy damage.
Terming the over loss up to 60 percent in Jammu region particularly of paddy, Tejinder Singh alleged delay in settling the insurance cases under Fasal Bhima Yojna is worrying farmers. He demanded that the representatives of Insurance companies should come and assess the damage and settle the claim as per the rules. He said the Jammu district right from Akhnoor to Bishnah and R S Pura has suffered a heavy loss which is about 75 percent.
He also expressed concern that all farmers of Jammu region have not insured their crops. Those who have taken Kissan Credit Cards (KCC) have only insured their crop while majority of the farmers crops are without insurance and they are dependent on compensation from the Government, he added.
Singh said for last over three years the Jammu region is facing unseasonal rains or hailstorm adding to the woes of farmers as every time they suffer a huge loss of Kharif crop. The Agriculture Universities should conduct research that which crop should be cultivated and which not to resist the heavy rains and hailstorm. The Agriculture Universities should conduct research on climate change, he added.
Joint Director Agriculture Inputs, Arvinder Singh Reen while admitting that about 60 percent of Basmati crop has been damaged in Jammu region said that the Department is assessing the loss to get insurance cover released. He said while the farmers who are covered under insurance will get insurance money but those who are not covered their list will be framed by joint teams of Agriculture and Revenue Department so that the compensation can be paid under SDRF scheme.
He said only Paddy, wheat and Maize are covered under Fasal Bhima Yojna and not vegetables and flowers. Now the Department is pressing for bringing these crops also under the scheme, he added.
However, Dr R K Samotra Director Research SKUAST, Jammu did not agree that the loss is to that extent as has been claimed. There is loss to Basmati which was sown earlier and it got 15 to 20 percent damaged. The Agriculture is line department and it should conduct a survey of damage suffered by farmers.
Admitting that the repercussions of climate change can’t be ruled out, he said the University is conducting research from time to time to identify the verities of crops which can suit the climate change. The University is working on climate resilient verities and issuing advisories to farmers accordingly, he added.
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