With sudden change in weather, crops in Pokhran sub-division of Jaisalmer faced massive damages. Adding to the woes of farmers, the turnaround in weather came when the crops were ripe and ready for harvest. To assess the situation, MP Gajendra Singh Shekhawat along with MLA Chotu Singh Bhati and district collector visited the affected places.
"We took a stock of the losses and have assured farmers of all the needed help. Officers have been asked to carry out relief activities at the earliest and the issue would be raised at all the appropriate levels to facilitate the farmers for compensation," said Shekhawat.
The state government too is monitoring the situation closely though it rejected the claims of massive losses. "Though no major calamity is reported so far and hailstorms are in patches, we are still keeping tab and will assess the actual losses soon," said Prabhulal Saini, agriculture minister.
In Jodhpur and other parts of western Rajasthan, hailstorm and thunder showers also affected the Rabi crop. Places including Mathania and Phalodi were the worst affected. "If it continues, it is again going to be problematic," said Chotu Ram, a farmer at the Mathania village. Farmers in all parts of the state requested public representatives to help them.
Source - timesofindia.indiatimes.com
