Haryana conducts survey on cotton crop loss

State govt says usual formula for compensation was Rs 12,500 an acre for 100% damage that could be raised in case of cotton

The government of Haryana is conducting a survey of the loss farmers have faced due to the infestation of pests in the cotton crop, something which has led to an agitation in neighbouring Punjab.

Finance Minister Abhimanyu told Business Standard the usual formula was compensation of Rs 12,500 an acre for 100 per cent damage, but this could be increased for cotton, as the cost of cultivation is higher.

Punjab had announced Rs 8,000 an acre for cotton farmers who lost their crop due to the whitefly pest, sparking an agitation. Farmers wanted Rs 40,000 an acre.

In Haryana (affected districts are Hisar, Sirsa, Fatehabad and Jind), farmers have not gone on an agitation. However, any compensation below Rs 20,000 an acre is a sprinkling of salt on our wounds, says Raj Kumar, a farmer from Adampur in district Hisar. “We spend a minimum of Rs 20,000 an acre for growing cotton, and expect the government to use the actual cost of cultivation in the compensation formula,” he said.

The minister said field visits were being jointly done by officials of both the revenue and agriculture departments. “It might take some time, but we will come with a sufficient amount of relief,” he said.

An estimated 629,000 hectares is under cotton cultivation for the 2015-16 kharif season in Haryana.