There should be a separate compensation package for the farmers affected by the recent floods, inundation, and waterlogging, says the Congress general secretary and Sirsa MP Kumari Selja. Haryana government should take appropriate action, said the Congress MP.
Due to the heavy rains and floods, the crops have been severely damaged, especially paddy, which is one of the primary crops in Haryana districts such as Karnal, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Ambala, Jind, Yamunanagar, Panipat, Sirsa, and Sonipat, Selja added. Among these, Karnal, Kaithal, Kurukshetra, and Jind are referred to as the rice bowl, and Karnal in particular is considered famous for Basmati rice production, she said in a statement.
On one hand, the grains are small, and on the other, they have blackened, affecting the quality of the rice. Farmers are very worried about the price and yield of the Pusa Basmati variety 1509. It does not even look likely that production costs will be recovered, because paddy prices in the market this season are lower compared to last year, she said.
According to Selja, the yield of paddy has also decreased significantly from the previous year. Previously, it could reach up to 30 quintals per acre, but it has now dropped to 20–25 quintals, and in certain districts, it is as low as 15 quintals per acre.
Expressing deep concern over the situation, she wrote a letter to Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on September 15, demanding a permanent solution. Selja, in a statement on Friday, said that due to the breach of the Hisar-Ghaggar Drain and heavy rainfall recently, thousands of acres of crops, mainly paddy, cotton and millet, have been destroyed in Hisar, Fatehabad and Sirsa.
Several hamlets had to be vacated and in some places, houses have also been damaged, she said, adding that the demand of farmer organisations for compensation of Rs 50,000 per acre is justified.
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