LAHORE: Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) on Wednesday demanded the government to declare emergency in agriculture sector and support the growers with all resources who have lost their ready to harvest wheat and other crops due to hailstorm and heavy rains during last three days.

The LCCI office-bearers told APP here that unexpected heavy rains had caused huge damages to wheat and other crops in the country. They added that natural calamity had not only affected the growers who lost their precious crops but also posed a serious threat to food security in the country.

Lahore Chamber suggested the government that growers should be compensated and supported, adding that departments concerned should also make prior planning that how food security could be ensured.

They also urged the farmers to harvest and store wheat crop on top priority basis to save each grain, citing that delayed harvesting resulted in high grain losses.

It is to mention that recent spell of rains and hailstorm caused huge damages to wheat crop which was ready to harvest in most parts of the country.

According to unofficial estimates, heavy downpour and blizzard in wheat-producing areas of Punjab, damaged around 40,000 tonnes of wheat grains.