Published on : 02 Oct 2025, 5:12 am

Thirty-seven per cent of Punjab’s paddy has been damaged due to the 2025 floods in the state, an estimation by Down To Earth (DTE) has found.

The state’s total loss is around Rs 20,000 crore, according to Harchand Singh Barsat, chairman of the Punjab State Agriculture Marketing Board.

DTE calculated that the excess rainfall, floods and the consequent spread of false smut, a fungal disease across 121,405.693 hectares caused losses of Rs 7,500 crore.

Fields turn yellow

In Ludhiana district’s Talwandi Kalan, Bikkar Singh inspects his paddy fields, and yellow spores resembling turmeric dust rise as he hits the stalks. His hands turn yellow from the grains. This situation is not limited to his fields.

DTE observed the presence of false smut in p

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