Punjab Mobilizes Massive Workforce for Crop Damage Assessment
In response to significant agricultural losses caused by recent adverse weather conditions, the Punjab government has initiated a comprehensive crop damage assessment operation across multiple districts. Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian announced that more than 500 officials from the state agriculture department have been deployed to affected areas to conduct a thorough evaluation of the destruction.
Scale of Damage and Assessment Teams
Preliminary reports indicate that wheat crops spanning over 1.25 lakh acres have suffered substantial damage due to unseasonal rains and hailstorms. The minister revealed that the assessment teams include 145 Group A agriculture officers who are specifically monitoring operations in seven severely impacted districts: Amritsar, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Fazilka, Bathinda, Mansa, Ferozepur, and Moga.
These officials have received strict directives to work in close coordination with the revenue department to ensure the smooth execution of the special girdawari, which is the formal crop loss assessment process. The deployment follows Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's announcement regarding the initiation of this special assessment just one day prior.
Government Commitment to Farmers
Minister Khudian emphasized the government's dedication to protecting farmers' interests, stating that compensation for losses caused by natural calamities will be provided according to prescribed norms. "The government is committed to safeguarding farmers' interests and will compensate losses caused by natural calamities as per the prescribed norms," Khudian affirmed.
He further explained that affected farmers will receive their due compensation after final reports are submitted by the deputy commissioners of the respective districts. The minister personally visited affected fields in Sri Muktsar Sahib district on Tuesday to inspect the damage firsthand.
War Footing Assessment and Technical Support
Khudian described the department's approach as working on a "war footing" to complete the assessment accurately and transparently. Field officials have been instructed to maintain constant contact with the farming community and provide technical guidance where necessary to help salvage any remaining crop that might be recoverable.
On Monday, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had reiterated the state's commitment to protecting farmers, confirming that compensation would be provided for wheat crop losses resulting from the recent unseasonal rains and hailstorms once assessment reports are received from deputy commissioners.
Extent of Crop Damage
Reports from the affected regions indicate severe damage to ready-to-harvest wheat crops across Punjab's Malwa belt. Districts including Bathinda, Mansa, and Muktsar have reported crop damage reaching up to 80% in some villages, with inclement weather flattening fields that were nearly ready for harvest.
The assessment teams are now working diligently to document the full extent of losses, which will form the basis for compensation decisions and future agricultural planning in the region.
