Jaipur: Torrential rainfall in Rajasthan has caused significant damage to the Kharif crops, with losses estimated between 30% to 40%. In some districts like Sawai Madhopur, where torrential rainfall occurred almost a week ago, the losses can reach up to 90%. Farmers in the Kota division have reported extensive damage to soybean fields due to continuous downpours. Similarly, in Jaipur, Sriganganagar, Hanumangarh, Ajmer, Sikar, and other districts, the crops of guar, moong, and bajra have suffered due to waterlogging and excess moisture. However, agriculture experts believe that sowing Kharif crops after September 7 can yield good results as rainfall is likely to subside by then.TOI on Saturday spoke to farmers and experts from the Jaipur Anaj Mandi, who have maintained that prolonged rainfall at this stage of crop maturity could further aggravate losses. On the other hand, the state govt has already ordered a Girdawari (crop damage assessment). Many farmers have already applied for crop insurance schemes and are also waiting for their crop assessment.Babu Lal Gupta, the Chairman of the Rajasthan Khadya Padarth Vyapar Sangh, said that his teams across the state have spoken to farmers to understand how the rainfall has impacted the overall production of Kharif crops. “The worst affected places are Sawai Madhopur district and Nohar (Hanumangarh), where 90% of the crop damage is reported. They sowed the fields almost a fortnight ago, and it is damaged. The crops of moong, moth, guar, and bajra are badly damaged in these areas. Similarly, an average loss of 30% to 40% in the crops is reported in various parts of the state,” said Gupta.Farmers in Hanumangarh, Bikaner, and Sriganganagar have also witnessed crop damage due to the flood fury of neighbouring Punjab and the increased water level of the Ghaggar river. “Guar is badly damaged in our region, as are the crops of moong and bajra. Many of us will start sowing the fields again as a third attempt when the rain stops in the coming days,” said Prakash Bishnoi, a farmer from Nohar village in Sriganganagar.Similarly, farmers in Tonk and Ajmer are affected by the torrential rainfall. “We have seeded moong and moth this season, but the seeds washed away. Farms are still flooded, and another seeding attempt in the coming days is unlikely,” said Balvir Singh Rathore of Pandarwara village in Ajmer district.In areas including Dausa and Lalsot, the crops of groundnut and bajra are damaged. “I have done sowing twice so far, and on both occasions, the seeds washed away. I will make another attempt in the second week of September when the rain stops,” said Shankar Lal Gurjar, a farmer in Lalsot, Dausa.
