Moderate rain adds to worries of farmers

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 10

Almost 80 per cent wheat crop has been harvested and reached grain markets, but high velocity winds overnight and moderate rain in the morning worried those farmers, who were yet to harvest the crop or secure the husk.

The rain and winds, however, did not damage much crop husk, but the uncertainty of weather has worried farmers. Now, they are transporting husk to secure places.

As the shifting of procured wheat from mandis is on full swing, a large stock of the crop is still lying open in markets. As most of the grain markets are not covered by sheds, the procured wheat bags are often piled out in the open. With uncertainty of weather conditions, the wheat lying in the open is at a risk of getting wet in case of further showers. The wet wheat is prone to losing lustre and even rotting.

With various government and private agencies procuring nearly 5.20 lakh metric tonne wheat crop, 80 per cent of the produce has been procured. District mandi officials said a maximum of the produce had been procured by government agencies as private players had purchased a negligible 3,216 metric tonne wheat. The total procurement during the wheat harvesting season last year stood at 6.82 lakh metric tonne.

Agricultural experts said following insecurity after the Covid-19 lockdown, farmers stored more grain at homes, so it would be difficult to cross the last year’s mark. The average per acre yield also reportedly decreased.