Rain delays wheat harvesting in Punjab, Hry; farmers worried
PATIALA/JALANDHAR/KARNAL: Heavy rain and high-velocity winds lashed the standing wheat crop in Punjab and neighbouring Haryana for the third consecutive day on Wednesday morning, causing harvesting delay that has left the region’s farmers worried.
Flattening of crop and waterlogging of fields were reported from various districts of the two states. In Punjab’s Patiala district, farmers in several villages of Ghanaur, Nabha, Bhadson, Patiala and Patran blocks had their crop flattened and fields waterlogged. The state received an average 15-6mm rain.
In Haryana, about 30mm rainfall was received at Radaur of Yamunanagar district followed by 10 mm each in Kurukshetra, Kaithal and Jagadhari.
The rain dampened the festive spirit among the farmers who won’t able to perform the ritual of harvesting wheat on Baisakhi that falls on Friday.
The agriculture department claimed to have rushed its teams to different areas to assess damage to the crop. Heavy showers adversely impact the wheat crop at the ripening stage.
The meteorological department said it is likely to be sunny from Thursday onwards. Also, the harvested wheat unloaded at various purchasing centres is likely to be affected due to the rain as farmers will have to dry the grain to maintain the minimum moisture content before selling it.
Agriculture experts said if rain continues in the coming days, it will bring down the overall yield besides affecting the quality of grain and increasing its moisture level.
It will make the grain vulnerable to shriveling, blackening and discolouration, they said.
Patiala chief agriculture officer Arvinder Singh said the farmers cannot harvest the crop with combines till the fields and crop get dry.
“We have advised the farmers against harvesting the crop till it gets dry,” he said.
Dr GP Singh, director, Indian Institute of Wheat and Barley Research (IIWBR), Karnal, said, “We request the farmers to delay the harvesting by at least a week. The rainfall will not affect the standing crop and there is a possibility of damage in the flattened crop.”
In Punjab, the total area under wheat cultivation is 35 lakh hectares.