Punjab Minister Urges Centre for Higher Flood Compensation to Support Farmers

Punjab’s Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian has asked the Central government to provide immediate relief and a special financial package for farmers hit hard by recent floods. He is pressing for crop loss compensation to be raised to at least Rs 50,000 per acre, far higher than the current Rs 6,800.

Khudian joined Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan during his visit to flood-affected areas in Amritsar, Gurdaspur, and Kapurthala districts on Thursday. He highlighted the massive damage, saying over four lakh acres of farmland have been submerged, with paddy fields suffering the worst just weeks before harvest.

The minister said the devastation is not limited to crops. Livestock losses and destruction of rural infrastructure have further strained Punjab’s economy. He stressed that the crisis threatens both the state’s farmers and the nation’s food security, given Punjab’s key role in supplying grain to the central food pool.

Khudian argued that the current relief amount is far too low to cover the real losses. “Punjab’s farmers are facing unprecedented damage. Immediate and fair compensation is essential to revive the agricultural sector,” he said.

He also urged the Centre to release Rs 8,000 crore in pending Rural Development Fund (RDF) and Market Development Fund (MDF), saying this money is urgently needed to help the state recover.

Calling for a special package, Khudian said Punjab’s “economic backbone is under immense strain” and warned that without strong support, farmers will struggle to recover from the disaster.

The floods have left fields waterlogged, destroyed standing crops, and disrupted rural life across large parts of Punjab. Farmers say higher compensation is vital to cope with the losses and prepare for the next crop season.