Demands a massive financial package to address the devastating impact of floods & enhanced compensation to support affected farmers.

Punjab Foods, Punjab Relief, Shivraj Chouhan Punjab Visit, Relief Fund for Punjab Latest News: Chandigarh, September 4: With India's agrarian heartland passing through unprecedented times, Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian urged Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan for immediate relief and a massive financial package to address the devastating impact of floods, according to the Information and Public Relations Department, Punjab.

The S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian has also demanded enhanced compensation to support affected farmers after over four lakh acres of the state’s agricultural land were submerged, threatening both state and national food security.

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan visited flood-affected villages in Punjab today, along with two teams sent by the centre to assess the damage caused by the flood and meet with affected farmers.

S. Khudian accompanied Union Agriculture Minister Chauhan to flood-affected areas in Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Kapurthala districts, showcasing the devastating impact on the agriculture sector. Earlier today, S. Khudian received Chouhan at Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport in Amritsar.

Highlighting the extensive damage caused by floods, the Punjab Agriculture Minister informed that standing crops at over 4 lakh acres of farmland have been inundated according to preliminary assessments. With paddy fields being the worst affected, just weeks before harvesting season, he said that this devastation has resulted in significant losses for farmers and the state's agricultural economy. The impact on the rural economy is further exacerbated by substantial damage to livestock, the IPRD, Punjab said.

“Punjab's contribution to the nation's food security cannot be overlooked," said S. Khudian, while adding that as an agrarian state, Punjab plays a pivotal role in contributing to the central food pool.  However, the recent floods have brought unprecedented devastation to crops, agricultural infrastructure, and the rural economy. The state's economic backbone is under immense strain, necessitating immediate support to revive the sector and mitigate the suffering of farmers, he added.

Expressing concerns over the current compensation for flood victims, the Punjab Agriculture Minister said that crop damage compensation stands at Rs 6,800 per acre, which is insufficient considering the extent of losses incurred by farmers. He urged the Central Government to increase this compensation to at least Rs. 50,000 per acre.

S. Khudian has also demanded the immediate release of Rs 8,000 crore of the Rural Development Fund (RDF) and Market Development Fund (MDF) stalled by the Centre Government. Apart from this, Punjab requires a special package to mitigate the impact of the floods and support the state's economy, he affirmed.

(For more news apart from “Punjab Appoints One Gazetted Officer for Each Flood-Affected Village to Ensure Direct Contact,” stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman.)