Wheat Production Down, Rice Destroyed: Climate Change & Unkept Promises Is Crushing India's Farmers

“Climate change is real and it is negatively affecting farmers,” says Abhimanyu Kohar of Kharkhoda in Sonipat district of Haryana. After a drop in production of wheat due to an unprecedented heat-wave in March 2022, farmers are bracing themselves for a season of bad paddy produce. The rice production has been impacted by the rains which occurred in the month of September. As per India Meteorological Department, September rainfall was in excess of 82% in Haryana, a record after 1945. Similarly, Punjab also received 30% more rain, the first time since 1988.

Amid this, The Wire traveled to Kharkhoda in Sonipat district of Haryana to find out the ground reality. The farmers are facing issues on many folds. Apart from the change in climate affecting the crops, issues related to non-fulfilment of subsidies, non-procurement of certain crops, lack of support from insurance agencies and even suicides came to the fore. The farmer is in distress and they have no one to turn to.

Watch the full report by Zeeshan Kaskar to know more.
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