Widespread overnight rain and a drop in temperature in the country’s key wheat producing States of Punjab and Haryana are expected to boost wheat crop output this Rabi season, officials and experts said on Tuesday.
Rain and thundershowers lashed most places over Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh during the past 24 hours. Heavy rain in the northern parts of Punjab brought cheer to farmers, especially wheat growers who needed another round of irrigation this month.
According to the India Meteorological Department, the current active wet spell over the two States is likely to continue for another 12-18 hours, and reduce thereafter in spread and intensity.
Better yield
“Widespread rain at this time will prove to be beneficial for the wheat crop. The rain will help in improving photosynthesis resulting in better growth of the crop, which will result in improved yield,” agriculture expert and former Punjab State Farmers’ Commission adviser P.S. Rangi told The Hindu .
“The minimum temperature has also come down and it is likely to remain low during the next few days, which is again good for the wheat crop as it thrives in cold conditions,” he added.
According to the Union Agriculture Ministry data, wheat crop has been sown on nearly 35 lakh hectare in Punjab during the ongoing Rabi season.
In Haryana, wheat acreage was nearly 25 lakh hectare till December 21.
“Rain has come at the right time. This will not only help in reducing pressure on groundwater but would also help in retaining soil moisture,” said IMD Chandigarh Director Surinder Pal.
Mr. Pal said the current spell of rainfall will decrease from tomorrow in intensity and distribution in both the States. “The weather will be dry after Janurary 26, leading to a fall in minimum temperature by 4 to 5 degrees Celsius,” he added.
Rain will also help in containing the fungal disease yellow rust, Punjab Agriculture Department Director Jasbir Singh Bains said.
“The weather conditions were congenial for the attack of yellow rust. But now with rain, it will be controlled to a large extent,” Mr. Bains said.
Yellow rust is a fungal disease which turns crop’s leaves yellowish and stops photosynthesis activity.
Mr. Bains, however, advised wheat growers not to let rainwater stagnate in the fields as it could be harmful to the crop.
Wheat, the main Rabi (winter) crop, is sown between late October till December and harvested from April onwards.
In the current spell, Pathankot received the highest rainfall of 94 mm. Amritsar (13.1 mm), Ludhiana (53.6 mm), Patiala (14.8 mm), Adampur (57 mm) and Halwara (44 mm) in Punjab and Chandigarh (10.6 mm), Ambala (7.7 mm), Hisar (30 mm), Karnal (16.8), Narnaul (12 mm), Rohtak (3.2 mm), Bhiwani (1.4 mm) and Sirsa (5 mm) in Haryana received rainfall, an IMD official said.
(With PTI inputs)
