Flood-hit worried farmers seek enhanced compensation

AMRITSAR: Farmer groups of Majha region have sought enhancement in compensation for crop damage due to floods, saying the current relief amount is too less to offset the losses suffered by farmers. They even fear that crop failure due to floods could lead to frustration and suicidal tendencies among farmers on account of rising debt or financial strain. Farmer Bura Singh of Kohrian village in Sangrur district had recently committed suicide due to financial problems. "Suicide of a farmer in Sangrur is an indication of growing suicidal tendency among farmers due to heavy losses. More farmers following suit can't be ruled, since they have suffered massive crop losses," said general secretary, Border Area Sangharsh Committee, Rattan Singh Randhawa.

In the past one week, torrential rains and overflowing rivers have damaged major kharif crops like paddy, basmati, sugarcane and maize in the Majha region comprising Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Tarn Taran and Pathankot districts. State president of Jamhuri Kisan Sabha Dr Satnam Singh Ajnala said they had sought per acre compensation of the damaged crops to the tune of Rs 30,000 for paddy, Rs 25,000 for maize, Rs 60,000 for sugarcane and Rs 40,000 for American cotton, besides Rs 2 lakh for those who had lost their homes.

Mangal Singh, a farmer, said that there was no clarity over the compensation announced by the state government. "If it is Rs 5,000 per acre then we will not accept it, the loss is much more. At least we should get what we have lost," he argued.

Dr Satnam said farmers of flood-affected villages in the districts falling under Jalandhar division would hold demonstration in front of the office of divisional commissioner on August 29 seeking appropriate compensation to prevent farmers from getting frustrated, which could lead to suicides.

Crop failure coupled with rising debt is weighing on the minds of farmers. Most of them had pinned hopes on a good crop to meet their expenses and pay off the loans taken from banks, moneylenders or other institutions.

Sheetal Singh Talwandi, a farmer of Talwandi village, whose seven acres paddy crop is submerged, told TOI, "Future is very bleak, I don't understand how I will meet the family expenses. My crop is dying and the only hope left is compensation from the government." According to rough estimates of Jamhuri Sabha, nearly 800 acres of paddy and basmati crop were submerged in Ranian and Kakkar while in Baba Balaka, Tarn Taran and Patti, more than 28,000 acres of fields were hit by floodwater.

In Ajnala sector, worst-affected villages include Talwandi, Chak Aul, Chann Kalan, Bhagupur Bet and Molaeka. According to agriculture experts, submergence leads to effusion of soil nutrients, physical damage, increased susceptibility to pests and diseases, which eventually leads to complete or partial damage to plants.

Amritsar chief agriculture officer Dilbagh Singh said that the department had intiated survey of the damaged crops.