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Madhya Pradesh Crop Crisis: Unseasonal Rains Wipe Out Paddy Harvests

Unseasonal heavy rains have devastated paddy crops across Madhya Pradesh just as farmers were preparing for harvest. Former minister Narottam Mishra personally inspected the damage in his home district of Datia and promised to take farmers' concerns directly to the chief minister. Farmer organizations estimate losses could reach Rs 5,000 crore, with the Gwalior-Chambal region being particularly hard-hit. The situation has turned tragic with at least one farmer reportedly dying by suicide after his entire crop was destroyed.

Key Points: Narottam Mishra Reports Massive Crop Damage in Madhya Pradesh

  • Unseasonal rains damage paddy crops across multiple Madhya Pradesh districts
  • Former minister directs immediate survey of agricultural losses
  • Farmer organizations estimate Rs 5,000 crore crop damage statewide
  • Tragic farmer suicide reported after crops submerged in rainwater
2 min read

Former Madhya Pradesh Minister Narottam Mishra says rains damaged crops on large scale

Former minister Narottam Mishra inspects paddy crop damage in Datia, promises farmer compensation as unseasonal rains devastate Madhya Pradesh agriculture.

"Excessive rain have damaged paddy crops at large scale here in Datia. I will meet Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and convey the grievances of farmers. - Narottam Mishra"

Datia, Nov 1

Unseasonal rain with high-speed wind since the past week has resulted in huge damage of paddy crops almost at ready stage for harvest in several districts in Madhya Pradesh, prompting the state administration for an assessment of loss to ensure financial support for the affected farmers.

The Gwalior-Chambal region in the state that had already witnessed tragic flood during the monsoon season a few months ago, reportedly has been the worst-affected zone, especially districts such as Morena, Datia, Sheopur etc.

Former State Home Minister, Narottam Mishra, after inspecting damaged paddy crops in his native district of Datia, said on Saturday that farmers have lost their crops and ensured that they would be compensated for the loss.

Mishra, a five-time former Minister, who has been camping in poll-bound Bihar for nearly last one month, returned to his hometown Datia on Saturday, and carried out inspection of damaged crops.

He has directed the Tehsildar Officer to ensure that Patwaris (revenue officials) start conducting a survey soon.

"Excessive rain have damaged paddy crops at large scale here in Datia. I will meet Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and convey the grievances of farmers. He (Chief Minister) has already directed for a quick survey," former Minister Mishra said while talking to media persons.

According to State Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS) President Kamal Singh Anjana, heavy rain has resulted in damage of crops in several other districts from Rewa, Jabalpur, Narmadapuram, Mandla, Dindori, Hoshangabad, Harda, Betul, Sehore, etc.

"Kharif crops like paddy and maize worth Rs 5,000 crore have been damaged. If rain continues for three to four more days as forecast, loss could rise further. Farmers are trying to cover their produce with tarpaulin sheets, but it's impossible to save everything," Anjana has said on Wednesday.

Earlier on Wednesday, a farmer Kailash Meena, who had cultivated paddy on around nine bighas of land, allegedly died by suicide after torrential rains submerged his field, rotting the crop and wiping out his investment in seeds, fertiliser and labour.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has attributed the ongoing rains to a depression over the Arabian Sea, a trough line passing through Madhya Pradesh, and an active cyclonic circulation in the northern region.

Combined with Cyclone Montha, these systems have brought continuous heavy rainfall to several parts of the state.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
At least Narottam Mishra returned from Bihar to address this crisis. Hope the survey is done properly and farmers get their dues quickly. The suicide case mentioned is so tragic - we need better mental health support for farmers.
K
Karthik V
₹5000 crore loss estimated by BKS president is staggering! This will affect food prices across the country. Government should also focus on crop insurance schemes and better weather forecasting systems.
S
Sarah B
While it's good that politicians are visiting, I hope this isn't just for photo ops. The real test is whether compensation reaches every affected farmer. We've seen many promises before that took months to fulfill.
A
Aditya G
Climate change is making these unseasonal rains more frequent. We need long-term solutions - better drainage systems, crop diversification, and advanced weather alerts that reach farmers directly on their phones.
M
Meera T
My uncle is a farmer in Morena district. His entire paddy crop is destroyed. They were just days away from harvesting. The emotional and financial stress on farming families is unimaginable. 🙏

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