Rainy weather worries wheat growers

November 29 2019

Farmers in the region are a worried lot as the weather has turned cloudy and if there is rainfall, their freshly sown wheat will get damaged.

Some farmers said they had recently broken the crust by using seed drill in their fields due to the recent rain. If the rain lashes again, it would cause more damage to the wheat crop. The paddy yield was already low this year and basmati and cotton crops too were fetching low prices. The rain would add to our woes by increasing the input costs, said farmers, who had come today to the District Administrative Complex (DAC) for their administrative works.

Ranjit Singh, a farmer from Gurusar village, said, “Some farmers in the neighbouring villages have used seed drill again in their fields and if there is a fresh rainfall, they will have to use the seed drill for third time. We are praying for no more rainfall at this juncture. Nearly 80 per cent wheat sowing has been completed in the district.”

He said the rain would also damage the growing vegetables and increase their market prices. Baljinder Singh Brar, Chief Agricultural Officer, Muktsar, said, “The weather is cloudy and mild rainfall will cause damage to the fresh sown wheat crop, but if it rains heavily then the losses will be minimal. Earlier, some farmers used seed drill again in their fields, fearing damage to the fresh sown wheat seed.”

The rainfall at this stage is unfavourable for kinnow and cotton crops as well. “The rainfall will discolor the fruit and cotton crop, thus it is not required now. However, the weather is cloudy and we are praying for it to turn normal,” said a cotton grower.

 

This news has not been edited by Apni Kheti staff but has been published by various news feeds

Source: Tribune India