Natural disasters like storm, rain and hailstorm have destroyed the ripe wheat crop in most areas of Punjab. This is a double whammy for farmers as agribusiness is already a loss-making business due to skyrocketing costs. This is the reason why the new generation is now leaving this work and migrating to cities. Farmers have suffered huge losses in Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Fazilka, Moga and Faridkot districts.
Early crops spread more and late crops are damaged less. Although the government has ordered agricultural officers in the affected areas to take stock of the fields, this potential relief will never be able to compensate for all the losses of the farmers. There are plans to do something else with the money they get from selling crops to farmers, the children have many dreams, Cersei has to be paid, goods borrowed from moneylenders have to be repaid, Aarti has to borrow money when she needs it. The amount also has to be paid and many other incomplete tasks have to be completed. But nature’s fury spoils all such plans and shatters dreams. Sayings like ‘Kheti Khasmaan Seti’, ‘Pakki Fasal Te Gademar’ and ‘Jatta (Kisana) Teri Jun Buri’ have become popular for such times.
The businessman may run his own small or big shop, but the farmer’s produce is always under the ‘protection of God’ under the open sky. That is why now the affected farmers of many districts have demanded from Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to conduct a survey to assess the latest losses and release interim compensation. The government can implement various warning systems to help farmers.
Every district or block agriculture officer should have the phone numbers of farmers in his area and can send advance weather information about the possibility of flood, rain or hailstorm to them over phone or WhatsApp. They can also tell farmers the probable daily wind speed. Additionally, farmers can plant trees around their fields that have little or no impact on natural crops.
The banks of canals or rivers should be carefully monitored, so that there is no possibility of the weak embankment being breached. At such times, first aid kits can also be provided to the farmers, so that they can always be prepared to face emergency situations. Crop insurance policy should be strengthened in every aspect, so that farmers never suffer losses. Lal Bahadur Shastri gave the slogan ‘Jai Jawan Jai Kisan’ and explained to the world that army soldiers and farmers should be respected. Both of these should get policy priority.
