The heavy rainfall earlier this week has caused heavy losses to the cotton crop in Narnaund, Baas, Hansi and Barwala regions of the district.

The Agriculture Department report has revealed that 49,212 acres of cotton crop has suffered above 26 per cent losses, of which the crop on 18,700 acres has reported damage above 50 per cent.

The Indian Meteorological Department stated that the district received 245.8 mm rainfall since June 1, which was about 40 per cent above the normal rainfall of 168.5 mm. The excessive rains had resulted in waterlogging in low-lying areas, which are also the cotton belts in the district.

According to the Agriculture Department report, the Narnaund block of the district is worst affected where 33,654 acres of the cotton crop has been hit. Nearly 11,000 acres crop has been damaged above 51 per cent and 14,000 acres has suffered crop loss in the 26 per cent to 50 per cent category. It was reported that 76 per cent to 100 per cent of the crop failed on 250 acres.

In the Baas block, the entire 8,200 acres cotton has suffered losses.

Several villages in Hansi and Barwala blocks have also suffered crop failure. The farmers said the water was still standing in the fields.

The district has cotton crop on 3,39,980 acres of which only 10,970 acres has been affected below 25 per cent due to rains. The farmers said it was for the third kharif season in a row when the cotton crop had suffered extensive damage due to excessive rainfall and other reasons such as whitefly and pink bollworm. Krishan of Dhingtana village said he grew cotton crop in 20 acres but the crop got damaged due to waterlogging.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala said girdawari of crops affected by waterlogging due to heavy rains would start onAugust 5. The affected farmers will be compensated as per the government policy, he said here today.

Dushyant said the work of draining out the water was going on at a fast pace in the district as the government had approved Rs one crore for purchasing of pump sets for draining out the standing water from the residential areas and fields.

Source - https://www.tribuneindia.com