It’s raining trouble for farmers
A heavy rainfall over Punjab and Haryana, have affected both the wheat, summer vegetables in the region.
By Madhvi Sally, TNN |
CHANDIGARH: A heavy rainfall, hailstorms, and wind-swept climate, created by the westerly disturbances over J&K and adjoining north Pakistan, along with upper air cyclonic circulation over south west Punjab and west Haryana, have affected both the pre-dominant wheat, summer vegetables and the potato crop in the region.
Even though the officials maintain that the rainfall is not that bad, farmers are reeling under the fear of losing produce. In Haryana, five to six villages in Palwal, Rewari and Yamunanagar have been hit by hailstorm. Officials, however, were not yet ready to speak about how much area was affected by the change of weather as the department was yet to assess the losses.
Similarly, Punjab—particularly Jalandhar, Nawanshahr, Patiala and Gurdaspur—have been witnessing heavy rainfall along with thick layers of hail in the fields.
Speaking to ET, Haryana director and special secretary RK Khullar said the real damage, if caused to wheat would take place when high-velocity winds occur and not by rain. “Even though the hailstorms are occurring, they are in a narrow strip and not in a large area”.
Mr Khullar said potatoes being grown in Kurukshetra and Karnal had been affected. “My only worry remains for wheat, which covers 80% of the rabi area in Haryana, that is, 24-lakh hectares and the projected arrival of 45-50 lakh tonnes of wheat in the mandis during the procurement season”. In Punjab, 33-35-lakh hectares is under wheat cultivation and production is expected to touch 145-lakh tonnes this season.
Both the governments of Punjab and Haryana have taken up the issue and special girdawari has been ordered by the respective state governments as well. (In Haryana, a girdawari of Rs 3,000 per acre is on offer for crops hit by hailstorm). Girdawari has also been ordered in Patiala, which is being undertaken by the revenue department.
Potatoes are already a causality — its prices now touching Rs 600-800 per quintal. “In Punjab, 70-75 thousand hectares was under potato cultivation,” said Jaswinder Sanga, general secretary, Jalandhar Potato Growers Association. “Till last week, we were expecting a yield of 25 quintals per acre but the past few days of rain have washed away our hopes. With the potato crop in UP and West Bengal in good condition, it is going to be the Punjab farmer who will suffer the most while selling the seeds and the crop”.
madhvi.sally@timesgroup.com
Even though the officials maintain that the rainfall is not that bad, farmers are reeling under the fear of losing produce. In Haryana, five to six villages in Palwal, Rewari and Yamunanagar have been hit by hailstorm. Officials, however, were not yet ready to speak about how much area was affected by the change of weather as the department was yet to assess the losses.
Similarly, Punjab—particularly Jalandhar, Nawanshahr, Patiala and Gurdaspur—have been witnessing heavy rainfall along with thick layers of hail in the fields.
Speaking to ET, Haryana director and special secretary RK Khullar said the real damage, if caused to wheat would take place when high-velocity winds occur and not by rain. “Even though the hailstorms are occurring, they are in a narrow strip and not in a large area”.
Mr Khullar said potatoes being grown in Kurukshetra and Karnal had been affected. “My only worry remains for wheat, which covers 80% of the rabi area in Haryana, that is, 24-lakh hectares and the projected arrival of 45-50 lakh tonnes of wheat in the mandis during the procurement season”. In Punjab, 33-35-lakh hectares is under wheat cultivation and production is expected to touch 145-lakh tonnes this season.
Both the governments of Punjab and Haryana have taken up the issue and special girdawari has been ordered by the respective state governments as well. (In Haryana, a girdawari of Rs 3,000 per acre is on offer for crops hit by hailstorm). Girdawari has also been ordered in Patiala, which is being undertaken by the revenue department.
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Potatoes are already a causality — its prices now touching Rs 600-800 per quintal. “In Punjab, 70-75 thousand hectares was under potato cultivation,” said Jaswinder Sanga, general secretary, Jalandhar Potato Growers Association. “Till last week, we were expecting a yield of 25 quintals per acre but the past few days of rain have washed away our hopes. With the potato crop in UP and West Bengal in good condition, it is going to be the Punjab farmer who will suffer the most while selling the seeds and the crop”.
madhvi.sally@timesgroup.com
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