New Delhi, March 20 (NationPress) - On Friday, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced that the central government has undertaken a comprehensive assessment of the agricultural landscape nationally, particularly focusing on the crop losses incurred from unseasonal rains and hailstorms affecting numerous states.

Addressing the media, the minister highlighted that many crops were on the verge of harvest when these adverse weather events occurred.

"Today, I carried out an extensive evaluation of the agricultural scenario across the nation, especially in light of the negative impact from weather disturbances in various states. Just as the crops were nearing harvest, we faced not only rainfall but also hail in several regions, which has led to significant crop damage. We promptly reached out to the affected states to assess the hail-related losses," Chouhan stated.

He further explained that immediate directives have been issued for damage assessments and necessary measures to ensure that affected farmers receive timely relief.

Earlier that day, Chouhan mentioned in a social media post that he convened a meeting with senior officials at Krishi Bhavan to review the agricultural conditions nationwide.

During this meeting, comprehensive discussions took place regarding the crop losses attributed to unseasonal weather events. The minister instructed officials to ensure a rapid evaluation of the damage and implement swift relief actions for farmers.

Chouhan also reassured farmers about the forthcoming procurement season, emphasizing that crops will be bought at the Minimum Support Price (MSP).

"The procurement of wheat and paddy is set to commence soon, with this year witnessing a bumper production. We will ensure the purchase of wheat and paddy while also placing significant emphasis on pulses. We are committed to acquiring all quantities that farmers wish to sell," he asserted.

Moreover, the minister indicated that the government is adopting a region-specific strategy for the upcoming Kharif season.

"In the past, we would hold a single meeting to strategize for the forthcoming Kharif crop. Now, we will conduct regional conferences in Delhi as the country can be broadly categorized into five regions: North, South, West, East, and the hilly and Northeast states," he explained.

As per the minister, the government has organized the country into five collaborative groups to enhance coordination and planning for the Kharif season.

He noted that three regional conferences have already been scheduled—April 7 in Jaipur, April 17 in Lucknow, and April 24 in Odisha—with dates for the remaining two to be finalized shortly.

Chouhan emphasized that the goal of these regional consultations is to devise improved agricultural strategies tailored to local conditions and to bolster support systems for farmers ahead of the Kharif sowing period.