Kuldeep Rathore urges Govt to assess the loss of cash crops and fruits due to the recent unseasonal rain
All India Congress Committee spokesperson and Theog MLA Kuldeep Singh Rathore has urged the Chief Minister, Agriculture Minister and Horticulture Minister to assess the loss of cash crops and fruits due to the recent unseasonal rain and hailstorm in the state and provide compensation to the affected farmers and orchardists as per the rules. He said that the apple crop has been completely destroyed due to the hailstorm in the state, while other crops including vegetables and wheat have also suffered heavy damage. He said that the Revenue Department of the state should be directed soon to assess this loss.
Addressing journalists here today, Kuldeep Singh Rathore expressed his concern over the increase in natural disasters in the state in the last two years and said that now scientific research is needed on this. He said that increasing global warming can be a major reason for this. He said that long-term policies should be made for horticulture and agriculture so that they can be saved from economic loss due to any natural disaster.
Rathore said that anti-hail guns have been installed at many places in upper Shimla to prevent hailstorm. Some gardeners believe that it is having an adverse effect on other places and hailstorms are moving towards their area. He said that it also needs to be investigated whether this is changing the direction of hailstorms in other adjoining areas, and if this is not the case then anti-hail guns should be installed in Theog area as well.
Kuldeep Rathore said that hailstorm has caused double damage to farmers and gardeners. Firstly, their income has been adversely affected and secondly, those who have taken agricultural loans are not in a position to repay them. In such a situation, they have demanded from the government that the repayment and interest on their loans should be postponed till next year.
Rathore has also demanded subsidy on pesticides given to farmers and gardeners.
