Rain delays harvesting of wheat

Parveen Arora
Tribune News Service
Karnal, April 17

Untimely rain has increased the tension of farmers as the harvesting of wheat has been delayed by a few more days.

Though Agriculture Department officials consider no loss to the crop due to unexpected rain, they have urged the farmers to remain vigilant in coming days. The officials, too, are monitoring the situation closely.

“The district has witnessed on an average 1.22 mm rainfall, which hasn’t yet affected the wheat crop, but delayed the harvesting by three to four days,” said Aditya Dabas, Deputy Director, Agriculture.

No loss to wheat crop had been reported so far in the district, but officials had been asked to monitor the situation in their areas concerned, he said.

Wheat crop was cultivated in around 1.80 lakh hectare in the district and, so far, around 20 per cent wheat crop had been harvested by the farmers, Dabas said.

He appealed to the farmers to report to the department over any losses, if any, to the wheat crop. “The farmers having crop insurance facility will report to the official concerned to get the losses assessed,” the Deputy Director said.

“I have started the harvesting of wheat on Monday, but had to stop due to bad weather conditions. As per the meteorological department, the conditions will remain same for a few days more. Therefore, I have no option, but to stop harvesting,” said Raj Kumar, a farmer.

Meanwhile, Bhartiya Kisan Union state president Sewa Singh Arya urged the authorities to ensure farmers’ who had brought their wheat to grain markets got covers to protect them from rain.

He alleged that due to inadequate arrangement, the produce was getting exposed to rain out in open.

Finance and Revenue Minister Abhimanyu said the Revenue Department had been asked to immediately prepare a report on the loss caused to crops due to untimely rains, hailstorm and high-velocity winds.

The Indian National Lok Dal demanded that the state government immediately order a ‘girdwari’ to assess crop loss.

“The government must come to the aid of farmers who have suffered damage due to untimely rains,” INLD senior leader Abhay Singh Chautala said.

Rain flattens crop in Kaithal 

Kaithal: The untimely heavy spell of rain today and yesterday has resulted in loss to standing wheat crop in Kaithal. While rain accompanied by high velocity winds flattened crops at many places, the wheat lying in mandis got damaged due to accumulation of rainwater. Deputy Commissioner Dr Priyanka Soni said govt agencies had purchased around 77,195 MT of wheat at Rs 1,840 per quintal till Tuesday. However, the arrivals and lifting might get late due to the inclement weather, she added. — OC