Showers flatten paddy crop, delay sowing of vegetables

A farmer shows damaged paddy crop at Chohan village near Jandiala in Amritsar on Saturday.

Manmeet Singh Gill

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, September 11

Heavy rain in the district during the last 72 hours flattened paddy crop especially 1509 basmati variety, which would be ready for harvesting in the next few days.

The showers have not only caused damage to the standing crop, but also delayed its harvesting for atleast next seven days. The heavy rain, which started early in the morning and continued till late afternoon in the district.

The showers have delayed potato sowing by at least 12 days. The soil moisture will drop to optimum level in at least seven days after which fields will be prepared. Sukhdev Singh, A farmer from Chohan village

The harvesting of 1509 basmati had already begun in the district. Private players were purchasing this variety of rice in the price range of Rs2,500 to Rs3,000 per quintal.

The early ripening variety of rice is preferred by growers, who sow potato, peas and other seasonal vegetables.

Apart from flattening 1509 basmati crop, the rain washed away pollens from fields, which were at the pollination stage. It will certainly have an impact on the crop yield. Kuljeet Singh, A farmer from Malawali village

A farmer from Chohan village, near Jandiala, Sukhdev Singh said, “The showers have delayed potato sowing by atleast 12 days. The soil moisture will drop to optimum level in at least seven days after which fields will be prepared. There will be serious trouble if it rains more next week.”

Farmers, who had harvested the crop, were getting ready to sow potatoes, but showers spoiled their plans, he added.

Another farmer, Kuljeet Singh of Malawali village said, “Apart from flattening 1509 basmati crop, the rain washed away pollens from fields, which were at the pollination stage. It will certainly have an impact on the crop yield.”

The flattened crop would get discoloured and farmers would face difficulties in selling it, he added.

Lakhbir Singh Nizampur, president, Vegetable Growers Association said, “The crop in most fields has flattened. Basmati 1509 has suffered more damages than other varieties, but the difference is only in degrees.”

Vegetable sowing, which would have reached its peak in coming the coming week, had been delayed for atleast 15 days.

District agriculture officials said the damage to crops was being assessed. Field officers had been asked to file report after visiting their areas, they added.