Untimely rain to delay paddy harvesting, procurement
More rain predicted; higher moisture content in crop a worry
CHANDIGARH: Untimely rain in Punjab and Haryana led farmers to put harvesting on hold and has left procurement agencies a worried lot.
Flattening of crop was reported in parts of some cities like Karnal in Haryana, but officials in Punjab say crop in the state was saved from lodging (damage) as strong winds did not accompany the rain.
Farmers whose paddy produce was unloaded in mandis could not get buyers as moisture content in the crop saw a sudden rise.
Concerns are mounting as more rain is predicted this week. “Any amount of rain at this stage is a cause of worry,” said director agriculture Punjab, Sutantar Kumar Airi.
He added, “Due to the rain, the grain will get extra moisture, which takes time to dry and procurement agencies do not accept this.” He added that inputs that he had gathered suggested that strong winds had spared the state so far.
However, farmers are upset. “Last year too, there was rain at a crucial time, when kharif crops were about to mature. This had cost us dear with procurement agencies imposing large cuts in purchase price, citing the high moisture content,” said Sukhwinder Singh, a farmer from Samrala.
In Punjab, the coarse variety paddy, procured for the public distribution system, is sown on 22.5 lakh hectare; aromatic variety basmati occupies 6.3 lakh hectare; cotton over 4 lakh hectare and maize over 1.6 lakh hectare. All these crops are at the maturity stage.
Agriculture department officials added that picking of cotton had started and rain in that area at this time will be damaging to the crop. “If there is rain in cotton-growing belt now, it will damage the crop,” Airi added.
CROP FLATTENED IN PARTS OF HARYANA
In Haryana, light to moderate rain was reported in most of the paddy growing belts of the state, including Kurukshetra, Karnal, Yamunanagar and Kaithal districts, and officials in the meteorological department have forecast more rain next week.
Following Sunday’s rain, paddy harvesting had to be put on hold and farmers whose produce was lying in the mandis could not get buyers as the moisture content had increased.
According to farmers, the rain has affected the standing crop badly as most of the crop was at the maturing stage. This will affect the yield and increase the harvesting cost, they say.
“Most of the crop which was ready for harvesting was flattened due to rain and wind. Now, we have to wait for three-four days to resume harvesting,” says Ishwar Singh of Indri in Karnal.
As per commission agents, the prices have declined by ₹ 200-300 per quintal due to high moisture content.
Farmers were also seen struggling to protect their produce from getting drenched in the mandis, which do not have enough sheds to cover the entire produce.
Any amount of rain at this stage is a cause of worry. The grain will get extra moisture, which takes time to dry and procurement agencies do not accept this.
SUTANTAR KUMAR AIRI,
Punjab agriculture director