Rain and hail damaged North India’s wheat, mustard, and sugarcane crops

NEW DELHI: According to reports from states, stormy weather over the previous several days, including hail, rain, and strong winds, caused severe crop losses in north India, up to 45% in certain regions. Sugarcane was affected in western Uttar Pradesh, but wheat and mustard were damaged across the province. Fruits and potatoes were among the crops that were reported to have suffered losses, although the apple crop was predicted to profit from the snowfall.

From February 29 to March 4, a strong “western disturbance”—a wave of humid winds from the Mediterranean region that affects north India—impacted the area, resulting in significant snowfall in the higher Himalayas and hail and thunderstorms in the plains.

According to preliminary estimates, between 2% and 5% of Punjab’s cultivable land experienced crop losses. “Crop damage, predominantly to wheat and mustard, is dispersed throughout 1.5 lakh hectares,” said Jaswant Singh, the head of Punjab’s agricultural and farmer welfare department.
All throughout Uttar Pradesh, reports of agricultural destruction were reported. Mahoba and Lalitpur districts recorded losses of more than 40% to standing crops, while other locations in Amethi, Etah, Ghazipur, Gorakhpur, Hardoi, Kaushambi, and Meerut allegedly suffered damage to a third of the crops.

When the hailstorm arrived, wheat and mustard were both at the milking stage. A farmer from Bijnor’s Chandak hamlet named Rajinder Singh said, “There’s a permanent loss of 15%.” The standing sugarcane crop has sustained significant damage, according to Shamli’s Dharmender Malik.
Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh all saw wheat crop losses. According to farmer Vinod Gupta of Lakhimpur Kheri, “Nearly 40% of the standing wheat crop fell to the ground because of thunderstorms and heavy rain in the area.”