Farmers remain dissatisfied even after the government declared an increase in compensation for crop loss caused by untimely rains, claiming that the announced compensation is inadequate.
Following the recent rains, the government raised the compensation for crop loss from 76% to 100%, resulting in an increase in compensation from Rs. 12,000 to Rs. 15,000 per acre.
Farmers argue that the current compensation of Rs. 15,000 per acre would not be enough to cover their input costs in case of complete crop damage. They point out that while previous governments had also announced compensation for crop loss, they were never able to receive it.
“Ruling party leaders always announce compensation for crop loss when heavy rains or disease strike during harvest time. However, I have never witnessed any government actually providing the promised compensation” said Rattan Singh Randhawa, a veteran farmer leader from the border region.
Gursevak Singh, a farmer from Fatehpur village, expressed the desire for the girdwari, or assessment of crop loss, to be completed as soon as possible. He noted that the government had announced an increase in compensation about five days ago and expressed hope that it would be paid as promised before Baisakhi.
He claimed that the recent bad weather had severely damaged the crop and that the state government's compensation, even if it is fully paid, will not be of any value to the farmers.
According to the farmers, it would be beneficial if the government initiated a crop insurance plan for the agricultural industry. This would prevent them from experiencing significant losses in the event of unfavorable weather conditions.
