In a major boost to the rural economy of Western Haryana, the state government has fulfilled its promise of compensating cotton farmers who suffered extensive crop destruction earlier this year.
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Targeting the Infestation: The pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella) attack was particularly severe in the semi-arid belts of Bhiwani and Hisar, where cotton is a primary cash crop. In several blocks, the damage was estimated to be between 30% and 75% of the total yield.
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The Compensation Breakdown: The ₹50 crore allocation follows a detailed special “Girdawari” (revenue survey) conducted by the agriculture department. The compensation rates were determined based on the percentage of loss—farmers with more than 50% damage receiving a higher tier of financial aid.
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Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT): To ensure transparency and eliminate middlemen, the entire amount has been processed through the “Meri Fasal Mera Byora” portal. “Every rupee has been sent directly to the bank accounts linked with the Aadhaar of the registered farmers,” a district revenue official confirmed.
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Farmer Reaction: While many farmers welcomed the timely release of funds, local farmer unions in Hisar suggested that the total loss was much higher and have requested a second round of assessment for the remaining blocks that were reportedly left out of the initial survey.
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Preventative Measures for 2026: Alongside the compensation, the Agriculture Department has announced a series of workshops in these districts to educate farmers on “Pheromone traps” and early detection techniques to prevent a repeat of the pink bollworm infestation in the next planting cycle.
