Hailstorm, heavy rain: Agriculture Ministry to coordinate state-level crop damage review

New Delhi: Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday directed ministry officials to conduct a comprehensive assessment of crop losses following reports of heavy rainfall and hailstorm damage across several states. He has instructed officials to coordinate closely with state authorities to gather ground-level information and evaluate the impact on farmers.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare said in a statement that Chouhan will meet agriculture ministers from the affected states later in the day to discuss the extent of crop damage and ongoing relief measures. The minister assured farmers that the Narendra Modi-led government stands firmly with them during this crisis.

According to the India Meteorological Department, a fresh Western Disturbance will affect Northwest India from April 7, bringing widespread rainfall, thunderstorms, and hailstorms across Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh through April 10. Thunderstorms with gusts up to 70 kmph are likely in parts of Northwest and East India.

Also Read| Buying and selling of pets, livestock in Kerala gets easier with new ‘LAPTOP’ App

Hailstorms — a major cause of crop damage — are forecast over Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and Rajasthan on April 7-8, and over East Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Maharashtra, and Marathwada on Sunday. Bihar, Jharkhand, and Gangetic West Bengal are expected to remain in the hailstorm zone through April 8.

Heavy rainfall warnings remain in force for Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karaikal, Kerala, and Mahe through April 6, and for Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and Meghalaya through April 9-10. Interior Karnataka, Telangana, and Rayalaseema are likely to experience continued thunderstorms throughout the week. Maximum temperatures in Northwest India are expected to drop by 3–5°C between April 7 and 10, while East India will see a gradual fall of 3–4°C from April 5 to 8.

Agrometeorological advisories for farmers

In line with the IMD forecast, the Agrometeorology Department has issued crop safety advisories for farmers in the affected regions:

• Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, East Rajasthan, East Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand: Deploy hail nets over orchards and vegetable plots, and harvest mature crops promptly to prevent losses.
• Jammu & Kashmir: Safely store harvested mustard, lentil, and gram; drain excess water from standing crops.
• Arunachal Pradesh: Postpone fresh sowing of Jhum rice, maize, and vegetables; harvest cabbage, pea, mustard, and potato, and move to safety.
• Kerala: Provide mechanical support to banana plants to prevent wind and rain damage.
• Tamil Nadu: Avoid pesticide application during heavy rain and prepare basins for spice crops.

Across all affected states, harvested produce should be covered with tarpaulin or moved indoors, while horticultural crops should be staked against strong winds.

Livestock and Fisheries Measures: Farmers are advised to shelter animals during hailstorms and store feed in dry locations. Fish pond owners should install netted outlets to prevent overflow losses.

PTI