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agriculture

Help sought as erratic damage caused by cumula-
tive effect of rainfall, gusty
winds and hailstorms,” he
weather damages crops said.

he experts at the PAU
are of the view that at
T the prevailing grain-
filling stage of the crop,
heavy rainfall accompanied
by gusty winds will sure
damage the yield. Moreover,
the flattening of the crop
caused by the above twin
factors is likely to cause
problem in mechanical har-
vesting and ultimately affect
the production.
Given the fact that winter
rainfall in the region is
usually caused by western
disturbances, the agro me-
teorologists have observed
the frequency of adverse
weather condition is higher
andeep Singh Heavy rainfall, accompanied by gusty this time. The damage
Grewal, a assessment in the form of
young mar- winds, is destroying the yields across special Girdawari ordered
ginal farmer Punjab, reports raju william already by the Chief Minis-
M of village ter has got prolonged due to
Lalton Kalan near Ludhiana, the special Khasra Girda- (PAU), Ludhiana and the offi- unstable weather behavior.
apprehends loss of wheat wari ordered by the Chief cials of the state agriculture The rainfall, though easily
yield roughly by 4-5 quintals Minister Captain Amarinder department are keeping predictable, came in spells.
during the ongoing rabi Singh to assess the damage. their fingers crossed about The hailstorms, compara-
season due to unseasonal Seized of the urgency to act the possible hit the pro- tively more pervasive this
heavy rainfall which lashed swiftly before the Opposi- duction may take. In rabi time, have added to the
Punjab accompanied by tion parties and farmers season 2018-19, it was record farmers’ misfortune as the
hailstorms at various places. organization could make it bumper wheat production damage caused by them is
For the marginal and small an issue, the government of 182 lakh tonnes in the irretrievable as compared to
famers like him across the has directed all the Deputy state. The per acre average rainfall.
state, the loss of even a few Commissioners (DCs) to yield was about 20 quintals. Given the behavior of
quintals means much for submit the preliminary Of the total cultivated weather so far, the experts
them and they look up to the reports at the earliest so area, the area under wheat have also observed that
state government to help as to enable the Revenue was 82 per cent. Dr Joginder the damage may not be
them out by way of com- Department to initiate the Singh, a former head, uniform everywhere. It may
pensation. Last season, his disbursement of relief. The Department of Econom- vary from field to field. And
per acre yield was about 20 administrative and revenue ics, PAU has observed extent of overall damage
quintals. officials have been directed that weather holds key will depend on the length
Though the Indian to visit the affected areas to matching the previous and intensity of the weather
Meterological Department extensively to conduct on year’s production record. conditions in coming days
(IMD) has predicted dry the spot assessment. “On the positive side, the as their cycle is not over yet.
weather conditions over the At this stage when the average yield per acre may The recovery time may also
major part of this week, the assessment exercise is on to increase owing to drop in increase if the cold weather
state revenue authorities quantify the extent of dam- temperature but it remains continues.
have got into action seek- age, the experts at Punjab to be seen whether it would
ing field reports as part of Agricultural University balance the quantum of letters@tehelka.com

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