Govt activates relief process as farmers protest crop damage in Rajasthan

Unseasonal rains and thunderstorms in many areas of Rajasthan during the last 24 hours not only cooled the hot weather but also damaged the standing and harvested Rabi crops. The government is assessing the damage and providing relief.

Agriculture Minister Kirodi Lal Meena stated that the Revenue Department has been instructed to conduct a crop damage survey. He added that farmers will be compensated under the SDRF rules if losses exceed 33% due to hailstorms or unseasonal rains.

The government is also assisting the people by providing compensation for post-harvest losses under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana. If the crops stored in the fields after the harvest are damaged by rains or any other natural calamity within 14 days, the farmer can claim compensation. To claim compensation, the farmer needs to report the damage within 72 hours to the Agriculture Rakshak portal, call 14447, or contact the insurance company, bank, or the agriculture office. According to officials, insurance companies have been instructed to immediately initiate field surveys upon receiving complaints to ensure timely claim settlement. Departmental teams are also visiting affected areas to assist farmers.

According to the Meteorological Department, light to moderate rainfall was recorded in many parts of the state, with Nokha in Bikaner receiving the highest rainfall of 25 mm. Temperatures in most areas remained 2 to 8 degrees Celsius below normal. The impact of an active Western Disturbance is expected to persist in northeastern Rajasthan, especially in the Bharatpur and Jaipur divisions, where light rain and thundershowers are expected to continue.

The Meteorological Department also stated that a weak Western Disturbance may cause light rain or drizzle in the border areas of western Rajasthan on March 21-22. However, the weather will remain dry in most parts of the country over the next 4-5 days, and temperatures will rise by 2-3 degrees.

The unseasonal rains were most severe in the eastern Rajasthan districts of Bharatpur, Dholpur, Karauli, Deeg, and Alwar, where ripe mustard and wheat crops suffered heavy losses. Farmer Himanshu Singh of Amoli village in Bharatpur said that the rains during harvest time destroyed his crops, threatening his livelihood.

Agriculture Department officials stated that a true assessment of the damage will be possible only after the survey report is received. Farmers have been advised to inform insurance companies within 72 hours. Many wheat fields in Bharatpur were flooded, while waterlogging in some areas of the city led to protests against the administration. Rajaram Sisini, District President of the Sarpanch Association, has demanded a prompt survey and compensation from the government.

In Barmer, Balotra, Jalore, and Jaisalmer in western Rajasthan, strong winds and rain have also damaged cumin, psyllium, castor, and mustard crops. In many places, harvested crops lying in the fields also got wet, exacerbating the losses.

According to preliminary estimates, the psyllium crop has suffered up to 80% damage and cumin about 40%. Prem Singh Sodha, a farmer from Barmer, said his crop has been almost completely destroyed. Amararam, a farmer from Balotra, said that farmers are devastated by the loss of crops sown with loans and demanded immediate relief from the government.

Farmers from the affected districts have submitted a memorandum to the administration demanding compensation, debt relief, and electricity bill waivers. Farmer leaders have warned that if their demands are not met, they will intensify their protests.

Local public representatives have demanded the government conduct a survey and release compensation soon. Barmer in-charge minister Zoraram Kumawat has directed officials to conduct a detailed survey of the damage, although the administration says that formal orders for Girdawari have not been issued yet.