Bhopal: With eastern and western parts of Madhya Pradesh set to receive unseasonal rainfall in the next few days, farmers in the state are very worried.
Just two weeks ago, due to western disturbances, the state received unseasonal rain and hailstorms for nearly four days. The rains damaged crops spread in four lakh hectares of land in 3600 villages of Madhya Pradesh, according to the state government's assessment.
Preliminary survey reports say 2 lakh 60 thousand hectares of wheat, 60,000 hectares of gram, 10,000 hectares of pulses have been damaged by unseasonal rains.
Lakshman Singh Baghel, a 35-year-old farmer who lives in Bhadbhada on the outskirts of Bhopal, had a sleepless night on Sunday, literally, as hours after the unseasonal rains were predicted on Sunday, there was light rainfall in his village. Fearing crop damage, his family of 16 spent all night harvesting the matured 10 quintals of Bengal gram crop. But the family is still worried as on the remaining eight bighas of land stands the wheat crop ready to be harvested and one spell of rain will ruin all their efforts.
"Advisory has been issued about unseasonal rains in next few days. My wheat crop is ready for harvest but I am not getting the harvestor on rent. I am very worried. The harvestor operator are also seeing the opportunity and are charging us double. I am worried that my yearlong effort would go waste if it rains," Mr Baghel told NDTV.
The state government claims that there will only be light rainfall which will not damage crops, so farmers need not worry.
"In a week we will be giving the compensation for the previous crop damage due to unseasonal rains. The package will be of Rs 400-450 crore. I spoke to IMD there were predictions of unseasonal rains, but now only drizzles and light rains expected. We do not anticipate much crop damage in next few days. Moreover most of the crop is already harvested," said Dr Rajendra Kumar Rajaura, Principal secretary Agriculture Madhya Pradesh.
According to the state government, over 15,000 hectares of land still has crops which are ready to be harvested.
Brijesh Kumar, 25, from Sonthia village in Vidisha has already lost two bighas of wheat crops to unseasonal rains earlier this month. The survey of his field is yet to happen and he claims even last year despite facing losses all he got is assurance from the state government. He is now thinking of giving up farming.
"I have lost two bigha of crop earlier this month. No one has come to us for survey. Last year also due to unseasonal rains our soyabean crop was damaged we got no compensation. If it rains again we will have no other option but to give up farming and work as daily wagers," Mr Kumar told NDTV.