FARMERS WERE in need of help. There was no question of refusing. Fields should not remain vacant," says Ashok Danoda, a farmer of Danoda village in Haryana's Jind district, and member of Sanyukt Kisan Morcha, a coalition of farmer organisations from across the country. After Ashok found out that heavy rains on July 9-10 have flooded villages in Haryana and Punjab, he gave a phone call to Tejveer Singh, a farmer based in Haryana's Ambala district, and spokesperson of Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (Shaheed Bhagat Singh). "I had become friends with Tejveer during the farmer protest movement on Delhi borders in 2020. I called him on July 12 to offer supply of ration and items necessary for survival," says Ashok. "Tejveer responded that the villages can manage survival, but the paddy is destroyed and if they get saplings they can plant again. I immediately arranged for transfer of a part of saplings from my field. Our village provided saplings for over 300 hectares (ha)," Ashok adds.
Heavy rain in the first week of July caused widespread crop damage in Haryana and Punjab. A July 31, 2023, report by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs says 13 of Haryana's 22 districts and 14 of Punjab's 23 districts were affected by floods, with crop loss reported on 216,384 ha and 25,530 ha in the states, respectively.
This story is from the August 16, 2023 edition of Down To Earth.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the August 16, 2023 edition of Down To Earth.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
FIX OUR FOOD
Chemical-dependent farming, lax labelling laws, rising anti-microbial resistance must top the agenda
BATTLE THE CAR BULGE
Clean, affordable, integrated and accessible public transport the only solution
CONSERVE NOW
Disregard for biodiversity conservation over the past two decades needs immediate redressal
SCRAP THE DUMP
Disincentivise garbage dumping, invest in behavioural change
PLAN THEM COOL
As urban India turns into a heat trap, the government must focus on improving cities' liveability
THINK LONG-TERM
India needs continued emphasis on flagship programmes, aligned to long-term planning that focusses on water security and circular economy in a climate-risked era
OVERHAUL OVERDUE
Hold polluting industries accountable for public health risks, environmental hazards, climate change; provide them support for green transition
LOOK BEYOND DUST
Reinvent National Clean Air Programme to focus on fine particulate matter and trans-boundary pollution
IT'S NOW OR NEVER
Clean energy sectors need demand-driven markets and domestic industries that can cater to the entire value chain
VISION 2030
Economic growth must take into account needs of energy transition, climate mitigation, with action aligned as per India's 2030 climate goals