New Delhi, August 1: The agricultural department in Rajouri district, Jammu and Kashmir, has commenced a survey to assess crop damage following recent devastating floods and continuous rainfall. The aim is to ensure timely compensation for farmers under the Prime Minister‘s Crop Insurance Scheme and other government relief measures.
Chief Agricultural Officer Rajesh Verma visited the severely affected village of ‘Athi’ with his team. Here, overflowing rivers and streams have washed away hundreds of kanals of fertile land. Standing crops of rice and maize have been completely destroyed. In several areas, soil erosion has rendered fields unfit for cultivation, posing a livelihood crisis for farming families.
During the inspection, agricultural officials spoke directly with farmers and recorded details of the losses. Farmers expressed that their year-long efforts were washed away in a single night. They urgently requested financial assistance to restart their farming activities. The department assured that no affected farmer would be overlooked in the survey. A detailed report on the damages will be sent to the district administration and the central government to expedite the relief process.
CAO Rajesh Verma stated, “This area is adjacent to Rajouri, and significant damage has occurred due to the swift water flow. As you know, a sudden flood hit here on the 19th of this month. All the farmland along the riverbanks, where rice and maize were cultivated, has either been washed away or covered in debris. Standing crops are buried under accumulated silt and mud, resulting in substantial losses for farmers.”
He mentioned that agricultural teams have reached all flood-affected villages in Rajouri. The survey is being conducted in a transparent and scientific manner. Compensation claims for insured farmers under the PMFBY will be processed according to the scheme’s guidelines. Details of uninsured farmers will also be collected and sent to the government for consideration of financial assistance under other available relief provisions.
Local farmers praised the district administration’s prompt response. One farmer remarked, “We have suffered heavy losses… everything is ruined, and our farmland has been washed away. After this, officials from the agricultural department came and assured us that they would help us secure some form of compensation or assistance.”
Farmers also expressed gratitude to Deputy Commissioner Abhishek Sharma for promptly dispatching departmental teams to the affected villages. They now hope for timely compensation, rehabilitation support, and ongoing assistance from the central government and district administration to restore damaged agricultural land and resume farming.
Leave a Comment