Patna: Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Friday directed the agriculture and disaster management departments to carry out an immediate assessment of crop losses and damage to fruit trees after a sudden thunderstorm, rain and hail hit several districts. In a post on X, Choudhary said the survey would help the government determine the extent of losses and ensure adequate help reaches affected farmers.The unseasonable pre-monsoon weather has already caused widespread damage to the state’s agricultural lands, with standing crops affected in over 2.06 lakh hectares. Between 12 and 19 districts are reported to have been severely affected, with North Bihar and Seemanchal belt being the worst affected.A succession of volatile weather systems has disrupted normal life and agricultural operations in districts including Muzaffarpur, Katihar, Araria, Kishanganj, Purnia, Khagaria, Darbhanga, Madhubani, Supaul, Vaishali, Bhagalpur and East Champaran. High-speed winds, reaching around 60 kilometers per hour in some places, combined with heavy rain and hail, have devastated mature crops that were close to harvest.The damage comes at a critical time for Bihar’s agrarian economy. More than 90% of the summer corn crop was reportedly ready for harvest, but waterlogged fields have left ears and kernels vulnerable to rot. Farmers say the hit has been compounded by falling market prices, reducing the returns they could have recovered. Growers of cash crops like green gram (garma moong) also report almost total losses.Bihar’s fruit sector has also been severely affected. Muzaffarpur’s GI-tagged litchi orchards have seen a sharp drop in fruit and deterioration in quality, with farmers estimating losses of up to 70%. Mango growers in Darbhanga and nearby districts report that violent storms toppled young fruits and flowers, reducing expected yields by 60-70%.Farmers in the affected districts say they are facing severe financial difficulties. “The rains and strong winds destroyed everything before we could secure the harvest,” said Naresh Mandal, a maize farmer from Araria. “We are completely helpless as market prices simultaneously plummet,” he said.
