Wheat seeds shrink, add to farmers’ woes

Manish Sirhindi

Tribune News Service

Ambala, April 20

Rain and hailstorm have not only damaged crops, but have also the shrunk of size of wheat seeds.

This year, the yield per acre has fallen to 6 quintals against the average yield of 16 quintals to 20 quintals in normal conditions, a survey conducted by The Tribune has brought out.

Farmers rued that the government was compensating farmers whose crops were flattened, but loss on account of undergrowth of seeds was not being taken into consideration. They claimed loss of yield should also be taken into consideration to assess actual loss to crops and prevent suicides by farmers.

Sambhalka village resident Partap Singh, who had sown wheat on 4 acres, said: “Last year, the yield was more than 17 quintals per acre and, this year, the yield has come down to 6 quintals. It’s a result of adverse affect of weather on seeds setting on the crop.”

Jaswant Singh of Tobha village said yield from his field had fallen to 7 quintals. “I have taken a loan of about Rs 2 lakh from a commission agent. Since the yield is less this year, I won’t be able to pay off debts,” he said.

Agricultural experts said due to increased moisture content in the ground following rain during the crucial phase of crop ripening, seeds in wheat plants could not attain full growth, leading to drop in harvest.

Girish Nagpal, Deputy Director (Agriculture), said damage was more in waterlogged areas.