Chandigarh :Punjab’s agrarian heartland faces an unprecedented crisis as over four lakh acres of farmland have been submerged due to recent floods, threatening both state and national food security. Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian has appealed to Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan for immediate relief and a substantial financial package to help farmers recover from the devastation.

Accompanying the Union Minister, Khudian visited the worst-affected areas in Amritsar, Gurdaspur, and Kapurthala districts to assess the damage and meet with impacted farmers. Upon arrival at Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport in Amritsar, Khudian received Chauhan, who is on a visit to evaluate the extent of flood losses.

According to preliminary assessments shared by the Punjab Agriculture Minister, standing crops on over 4 lakh acres have been inundated, with paddy fields bearing the brunt of the floods just weeks ahead of the harvesting season. The widespread damage has inflicted significant financial losses on farmers and poses a severe blow to the state’s agricultural economy. Additionally, the floods have adversely affected livestock, further straining rural livelihoods.

“Punjab’s role in ensuring national food security is crucial,” Khudian said. “As a key contributor to the central food pool, the state’s agrarian economy is facing unprecedented destruction. Immediate support is essential to revive agriculture and mitigate the hardships faced by farmers.”

Khudian also criticized the current compensation for crop losses, which stands at Rs 6,800 per acre, describing it as inadequate given the scale of the devastation. He urged the Centre to raise the compensation to at least Rs 50,000 per acre.

In addition, Khudian demanded the immediate release of Rs 8,000 crore from the Rural Development Fund (RDF) and Market Development Fund (MDF), which have been stalled by the Central Government. He also called for a special financial package to support the state’s economy and help farmers recover from the flood impact.