Rains might damage kharif crops in Punjab

Incessant rains in Punjab and Haryana could cause damage to kharif crops and dip in their yield, farm experts said Monday.

As rains set to delay paddy harvesting for a few days, farm experts are also apprehending their would be a short window to manage the crop residue, before sowing wheat.

A few parts of northern region, including Punjab have been witnessing widespread rains for the last two days. According to weatherman, rainfall activity will start receding tomorrow.

Though Punjab and Haryana are in the process of assessing damage to kharif crops, farm experts anticipate dip in yield due to continuous rains.

"Paddy grown in low-lying areas is vulnerable to damage due to rains as it usually gets submerged in water," Director at Punjab Agriculture Department J S Bains said.

According to farmers, paddy, which is at maturing stage, has got flattened at several areas because of rains.

"We have asked district agriculture officers to assess the damage caused by rains," Bains said.

Punjab fears one to two per cent impact on paddy yield if inclement weather conditions continue. The state has set a target of 200 lakh metric tonne of paddy output this season from 30 lakh hectares of area under sowing.

Bains further said rains at this stage will lead to delay in harvesting as moisture level in crop will increase and farmers may face problem in crop procurement process.

"Moreover, with delay in harvesting, our window period for managing paddy crop residue will further squeeze by at least five to seven days. It is also a matter of worry for us.

"A short window of 20-25 days is available between paddy harvesting and wheat sowing to manage crop residue," he said.

Punjab, this season, is geared up to curb the menace of residue burning with the use of agro-machinery and farm equipments meant for managing crop residue.

Cotton, another major kharif crop, has also left farmers concerned as rains could hit its yield at this point of time when the harvesting is underway.

"Cotton is at picking stage and rains have come as a blow for farmers," said an official of the Haryana Agriculture Department.

Cotton this year was fetching a higher rate of Rs 5,500 to Rs 5,700 per quintal, official said.

Farmers have sought adequate compensation for the damage.

"We have demanded from the government to get revenue assessment done of damaged crop and also sought adequate compensation to affected growers," Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) general secretary Sukhdev Singh said.

Meanwhile, senior Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala, in his tweet, has sought from the BJP-led Haryana government for getting a survey of crop damage done in the state and demanded compensation to growers.