The unseasonal rain last week has wrecked havoc in the region, causing extensive damage to crops and farmers in tears, especially in the tehsils of Nawabganj and Aonla.

According to reports, nearly 80% of oilseed and pulses crop have been damaged in these two tehsils. While revenue officials are yet to assess the exact loss to calculate compensation for farmers, officials at the agriculture department estimate that wheat crop suffered 30% losses.

Wheat has been cultivated in a total area of two lakh hectare. They explained that the yield per hectare is 39 quintals on an average and ifone quintal per hectare crop suffers damage, it means that 60 lakh quintals of wheat crop alone has been destroyed in a single stroke.

Officials attribute the huge loss to last week's hailstorm in the area. According to district agriculture officials, farmers suffered heavy losses, especially in Nawabganj.

While agriculture department is still conducting a survey to assess the damage, a majority of farmers complained that officials concerned are yet to visit their fields.

The crop damage is to be to calculated by bank officials, revenue teams along with district agriculture officers within 48 hours after state government declares compensation for affected farmers. However, none of the departments concerned has yet submitting their final reports.

Talking to TOI, district agriculture officer Ramtej Yadav said, "Farmers in the district suffered heavy losses due to the hailstorm and heavy rain and high speed winds that lashed the region last week. Though our survey is still going on, reports reveal severe losses."

Citing Nawabganj block as one of the worst-hit in district, Yadav said, "After the hailstorm, oil seeds, pulse and wheat crops were extensively damaged. Nawabganj block was the worst-hit as size of hail stones were comparatively larger in this area."

Yadav said, "Completion of survey will take time due to lack of resources yet data complied so far shows that 30% of wheat and 80% of pulses and oilseed crops were damaged in district."

Interacting with TOI, a leading farmer said, "The huge damage is due to the hailstorm followed by wind which first blew from east to west on the first day and from west to east on the second day. As a result, some wheat crop was flattened. Farmers who excessively used chemicals causing sodic soil situation in their fields are facing waterlogging. Crops in all such fields with sodic soil will be damaged as crops will turn yellow in the coming days."

Source - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/