Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Mar 20: Unseasonal rainfall and hailstorms have damaged standing rabi crops, including wheat, across several states, prompting Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to direct officials to coordinate with state governments for an accurate assessment of losses.

Chairing a review meeting on the agricultural situation, the minister instructed officials to immediately engage with states to identify affected areas where crops have suffered due to excessive rainfall and hailstorms, which often cause lodging of crops.

The adverse weather has impacted fields at a critical stage, with many rabi crops nearing harvest.

Chouhan emphasised that while state governments provide relief through their State Disaster Response Funds (SDRF), officials handling the Crop Insurance Scheme must ensure proper coordination with states. He stressed the need for scientific crop-cutting experiments to accurately determine the extent of damage.

“If a farmer has suffered losses, the damage must be assessed accurately and scientifically so that insurance claims can be processed effectively,” he said.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has also warned of two additional Western Disturbances, prompting the Centre to direct officials to remain alert and issue timely advisories to farmers.

On procurement, the minister said government purchase of wheat and paddy will begin soon, adding that rabi crop production has been strong this season.

Regarding pulses such as tur, masur, and urad, he said agencies like National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India and National Cooperative Consumers' Federation of India will procure produce as needed to ensure prices do not fall below the Minimum Support Price (MSP).

Chouhan also highlighted the need to shift focus from quantity to quality, citing premium wheat varieties such as Madhya Pradesh’s “Sarbati,” which fetches a higher market price, as a model for promoting value-based agricultural production.