Crop Loss and Debt Burden Cast Shadow Over Baisakhi Celebrations

The festival of Baisakhi, traditionally associated with joy and harvest celebrations in Punjab, has been overshadowed this year by widespread crop damage and deepening distress among farmers. Untimely rain and hailstorms have severely impacted the standing wheat crop, dampening the festive spirit across the state. According to available estimates, around 1.30 lakh acres of crop have been damaged so far due to adverse weather conditions. The unseasonal rain arrived even before the onset of the Baisakh month, leaving farmers struggling to cope with the losses. A central team is scheduled to visit the affected areas to assess the extent of the damage and evaluate the situation on the ground. The impact has been particularly severe in districts such as Muktsar and Fazilka, where thousands of farming families are facing economic hardship. While some fields still display golden wheat, others have turned dark due to excessive rain, indicating severe crop deterioration. The situation echoes last year’s devastation, when floods affected over six lakh acres of agricultural land. Beyond the immediate crop loss, Baisakhi also brings back painful memories for families affected by farmer suicides. In Faridkot’s Hari Nau village, two brothers, Jaswinder Singh and Jaskaran Singh, ended their lives by jumping in front of a train before the Baisakh period. In Bathinda’s village Gehri Bara Singh, farmer Jagseer Singh died by suicide on Baisakhi seven years ago after visiting Damdama Sahib, leaving behind a grieving family that continues to relive the trauma each year. Similar incidents have been reported from Fazilka’s Wajidpur Bhoma village, where farmer Sikander Singh died by suicide on Baisakhi, and from Dirba, where farmer Sukhdev Singh took the same step years ago. Despite a decade passing, Sukhdev Singh’s family has not received the promised compensation of Rs 3 lakh. In Mansa’s Tandian village, Jaspaal Singh also died by suicide on Baisakhi in 2022. Several affected families have not received any compensation in the past four years, and no specific budget allocation has been made by the government for their relief. Farmers and their representatives have expressed concern that their primary focus now is on salvaging whatever remains of their crops rather than celebrating festivals. They allege that successive governments have failed to implement a comprehensive agricultural policy to address the ongoing crisis. Data from the State Level Bankers Committee (Punjab) report of December 2025 indicates that farmers in the state are burdened with bank loans exceeding Rs 1.01 lakh crore, up from Rs 65,310 crore in 2019. This marks an increase of nearly Rs 36,000 crore over seven years. Farmer leader Sukhwinder Singh stated that no government has introduced an effective policy to alleviate farmers’ distress. With mounting losses, rising debt, and unresolved compensation issues, Punjab’s farming community continues to face serious challenges, turning what is usually a time of celebration into one of concern and hardship.