Rains in Pb, Har raise fear of adverse impact on Kharif crop

Rains lashed many parts of Punjab and Haryana since yesterday, raising fear that it may adversely impact the yield of major Kharif crops, including paddy, cotton and maize.
Punjab Agricultural University Vice Chancellor B S Dhillon said, "Rain at this stage is not good for paddy, cotton and maize crops as it can lead to adverse impact on their yield."
Paddy and cotton are almost ready for harvesting.
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 last two days, and submit a report in this regard, the department's director D K Behera.

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.
According to the MeT department, Chandigarh today recorded a rainfall of 46.9 mm.
In Haryana, Ambala and Karnal gauged rainfall of 32 mm and 20 mm respectively, while in Punjab, Gurdaspur recorded 52 mm precipitation, Samrala in Ludhiana 87 mm, Ropar 100 mm and Balachaur in Nawanshahr 94.2 mm of rains.