CHANDIGARH: The untimely rain come as a shocker to farmers in Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh as wheat crops suffers massive damage. Experts say if rain does not stop in a day or two then at least 45 per cent wheat crop is likely to be completely ruined, causing huge loss to the debt ridden farmers in the all three states.

Due to the rain from past two days, the harvesting operations have been delayed in the three states. It was expected that Punjab and Haryana were geared up for lifting 170 lakh Metric Tonnes of wheat during Rabi Marketing season 2009-10 but after the rain the figure will certainly go down.

Not only in Punjab but the wheat crop has been hit all over Haryana. “Loss of wheat crop is more because the crop is at maturity stage. Due to rain wheat crop gets moistened, due to which it can not be harvested. And if the rain continues for another three days it will put farmers in great loss,” said Phool Singh Vice President of Kissan Club Ambala district.

President of Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) Madan Pal Rana said “a big fall in wheat production has been witnessed in this season due to unseasonal rain and high temperature in month of March. I also wrote a letter to Haryana Chief Minister for compensation but they don’t take it seriously,” he added.

Same is the case in Himachal Pradesh, farmers of Hamirpur whose main source of income is the agriculture are highly upset with the failure of Rabi crops, first due to non arrival of rains and now with heavy rains lashing the area when crops harvesting season is approaching fast.

Wheat, maize and rice are the three major crops of the district and in the Rabi season, wheat is sown on an area of about thirty-six thousand hectares of land.

Talking to The Pioneer, Prem Kumar Dhumal, HP Chief Minister said “the government is upset with the failure or crops and all sorts of facilities like subsidies and food-grains on cheap rates will be provided to the people to manage their daily needs.”