 Early Times Report
Jammu, Sept 3: The Union Government has directed the Jammu and Kashmir administration to conduct a detailed survey and prepare a comprehensive report on the large-scale damage caused to agricultural land in the Jammu province following weeks of incessant rainfall. The directive comes amid growing concern over the devastation faced by farmers in both the plains and hilly regions of the division.
Officials said hundreds of hectares of farmland across Jammu, Samba, and Kathua districts have been severely affected. Vast stretches of paddy fields in the fertile plains—where rainfall is usually considered beneficial for the crop—have instead been waterlogged and destroyed due to the relentless downpour. The damage is not limited to paddy; maize crops in the hilly and Kandi belt have also suffered extensive losses.
Agriculture experts point out that while normal monsoon showers are vital for paddy growth, this year’s unusually heavy and prolonged spell of rain has disrupted the delicate crop cycle.
“Fields that should ideally have been nourished are now flooded, leading to rotting of seedlings and flattening of standing crops,” an official explained.
Preliminary reports suggest that hundreds of farming families are facing immense financial stress as their seasonal produce—on which they depend for sustenance—has been ruined. With many villages in the kandi and hilly areas already struggling with low productivity, the fresh losses have deepened worries of food insecurity and economic hardship.
The government has asked district administrations to deploy teams of revenue and agriculture department officials for field-level assessments. These surveys will document the total area affected, the percentage of crop loss, and the impact on farmers’ livelihoods. The findings will form the basis for recommending relief packages, compensation, or special support measures to mitigate the crisis.
Meanwhile, farmer associations across the region have urged the administration to speed up the process. “The damage is widespread, and farmers cannot afford to wait long for assistance. Compensation must reach the affected families at the earliest,” a local farmer leader in Samba said.
The incessant rains have not only impacted crops but also triggered soil erosion in several areas, further reducing cultivable land. Officials warned that if the rainfall pattern continues, recovery of standing crops may become even more difficult in the coming weeks.
With agriculture being the backbone of the rural economy in Jammu province, authorities are under pressure to ensure timely relief. The Union Government has assured that it will consider suitable compensation measures once the survey report is submitted. |
