Last Updated on April 13, 2026 11:19 pm by INDIAN AWAAZ
Staff Reporter / Patna
The All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) has accused the Nitish Kumar-led Bihar NDA government of “criminal negligence” in responding to the widespread destruction of Rabi crops across the state. In a strongly worded press release issued from Patna, AIKS President Rajan Kshirsagar announced a statewide agitation if the government fails to meet its seven-point charter of demands within 15 days.
According to AIKS, unseasonal hailstorms, squalls, and torrential rains in late March and early April have devastated over 2 lakh hectares of farmland across 12 districts and 111 blocks, with crop losses exceeding 33 percent. The worst-hit regions include Saharsa, Muzaffarpur, Araria, Begusarai, Madhubani, Purnia, Khagaria, Kishanganj, Madhepura, Darbhanga, Supaul, and Bhagalpur. In Bhagalpur alone, over 22,000 hectares of wheat, maize, pulses, oilseeds, and fruit crops have been flattened by rainfall nearly 1,183% above the long-term average.
AIKS condemned the state’s relief measures under the Bihar Rajya Fasal Sahayata Yojana, calling the compensation of ₹7,500–₹10,000 per hectare “a cruel insult” to farmers whose losses exceed ₹50,000 per hectare. The organization demanded enhanced compensation of ₹50,000 per hectare, citing the Swaminathan Commission’s C2+50% formula as the benchmark for fair valuation.
The seven-point charter also calls for a complete loan waiver for farmers whose crops were destroyed, repeal of the Disaster Management (Amendment) Act, 2025, and reform of wheat procurement norms to ensure fair minimum support prices. AIKS further urged the Bihar government to reintroduce the Chaturanan Mishra Crop Insurance Scheme through a state-owned insurer, ensuring zero premium for small farmers and rapid claim settlements.
Other demands include uninterrupted fertilizer supply for the upcoming Kharif season, and a special Kharif Credit Package offering ₹2 lakh per hectare at zero interest through NABARD and public sector banks.
Kshirsagar accused both the state and central governments of “betraying millions of farmers” through inadequate relief and anti-farmer policies. “The so-called double-engine government has delivered a double disaster for our farmers,” he said, warning that AIKS will lead mass demonstrations across Bihar if the demands are ignored.
The organization has given the government 15 days to act, after which protests will erupt “from Saharsa to Bhagalpur.” AIKS leaders emphasized that the survival of Bihar’s agrarian economy now depends on immediate intervention and genuine compensation for the calamity-hit farming community.