Rains in Punjab, Haryana may hit kharif crop yield
CHANDIGARH/KARNAL: Rains lashed many parts of Punjab and Haryana since Friday raising fear that it may adversely impact the yield of kharif crops, including paddy, cotton and maize.
Punjab Agricultural University vice-chancellor BS Dhillon said: “Rain at this stage is not good for paddy, cotton and maize crops as it can lead to adverse impact on the yield.”
Reports said that the paddy crop, which is almost ready for harvest, was damaged in some areas. Revenue officials in various districts have been asked to assess the damage to the crop. Procurement of paddy in Punjab and Haryana is scheduled to begin from October 1.
Meanwhile, the Haryana government has directed the agriculture and farmers’ welfare department to assess the amount of damage caused to the crops due to the continuous rains that lashed the state in the past two days and submit a report in this regard, department’s director DK Behera said.
The official said directions have been issued to all deputy directors of agriculture in the state to immediately take action in this regard.
Farmers have also been asked to inform the deputy directors of agriculture concerned within two days about any damage to crops due to waterlogging in their fields, so that necessary action can be taken, Behera said in an official release.
In Haryana, Ambala and Karnal recorded a rainfall of 32mm and 20mm, respectively, while in Punjab, Gurdaspur recorded 52mm precipitation, Samrala in Ludhiana 87mm, Rupnagar 100mm, Balachaur in Nawanshahr 94.2mm, Nabha in Patiala 45.1mm, Fatehgarh Sahib 18mm, Anandpur Sahib 48mm and Hoshiarpur 16mm rainfall.
Most of the matured crops in the northern districts of Haryana have been flattened and the farmers are worried that this may affect the yield and increase the harvesting cost.
“My six acres of paddy crop was ready to harvest and most of the crop has now been flattened. I have to delay the harvesting as it cannot be reaped now. Also, the rainfall at this stage will cause a loss of about 2-3 quintals per acre”, Raj Kumar, a farmer from Halalpur village of Kurukshetra district, said.
As their crops have got flat- tened, farmers feel this will increase the harvesting charges. “Though farmers are approaching us for the compensation under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Beema Yojana , but as of now, there is no major loss to the crop. However, the farmers, whose crop is damaged, will be compensated as per the government policy,” deputy director, Haryana agriculture department, Karam Chand told Hindustan Times.
Having an acreage of around 12.5 lakh hectare under paddy, Haryana is expecting the paddy procurement to remain around 50 lakh tonnes.
‘KHEL MAHAKUMBH’ POSTPONED
Meanwhile, as there is waterlogging in the Karan Stadium due to heavy rainfall, the Haryana government has postponed Swaran Jayanti Khel Mahakumbh, which was scheduled to be held on September 24, to September 27, said Karnal deputy commissioner Aditya Dahiya.
Sportspersons from all districts of the state are likely to attend the event on which around ₹4 crore will be spent. Chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar will be the chief guest.