Central Team to Assess Crop Loss in Punjab Today, 9-member team will visit affected areas

April 12, 2026

The recent rains in Punjab have caused significant damage to the crops. To assess the situation, a central team will visit Punjab today. The team will include 9 members. Led by PK Singh, Deputy Director of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs and Food, this team will go to the affected districts along with officials from the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and the state government.

Wheat samples will also be taken. It is believed that after this, the central government will make a decision. However, the Punjab government has already demanded that exemptions be given in the procurement rules so that their crops are not sold for less than the minimum support price (MSP) of 2,585 rupees per quintal. Earlier, the center had given Rajasthan.

1.30 lakh acres of crops destroyed

Approximately 1.30 lakh acres of standing crops in the state have been badly affected, while there is a concern that the quality in millions of acres may also be poor. In the markets, the moisture content of wheat is being recorded at up to 15 percent instead of the prescribed 12 percent, and preliminary checks have found up to 60 percent luster loss.

Regarding this matter, CM Bhagwant Mann went to Delhi and met with Union Food Minister Prahlad Joshi in Delhi. During this, he demanded that concessions be given in the procurement rules. However, the Punjab government is also conducting special inspections.

Relief has reached Rajasthan

To assess the damage to crops caused by hailstorm and unseasonal rain in the first week of April 2026 in Rajasthan, teams of the central government have already visited the affected areas of the state by April 9, 2026. According to the Union Agriculture Minister, about 2.49 lakh hectares of agricultural land have been affected in various states, including Rajasthan, with heavy damage to crops like wheat, mustard, psyllium, and cumin.

As relief, the central government has given major relaxation in the wheat procurement standards for the Rabi season 2026-27. Now wheat with up to 50% loss of luster and wheat with up to 15% broken or shriveled grains can also be purchased at the government minimum support price (MSP).