Unforeseen showers, hailstorm create panic among farmers

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, April 19

Unexpected showers and hailstones on Thursday evening caused much disappointment to the farmers who were all set to harvest their ripened wheat crop. The showers, which lasted for almost 15 minutes, left the farmers worried as the rain can cause great damage to their standing crop resulting in loss of yield.

Jagtar Singh, a farmer from Gumtala, said, “The rain at this time of the season is the worst thing farmers can expect. If it rains more it would make the soil muddy making harvesting difficult. The rain would also increase the moisture content in grains and it would be difficult for them to sell it in the market.”

The government procurement agencies allow moisture content at a maximum of 12 percent beyond which they are reluctant to purchase the produce.

The agricultural officials feared that with the today’s rain, the farmers will try to harvest their crop at the earliest, which could result in a glut at the markets. They said as the agencies would not procure produce with more moisture content it might not be sold immediately and farmers might have to wait.

Chief Agricultural Officer Dalbir Singh Chinna said it had rained in pockets and there has been no reports of damage. However, its enough to cause panic among farmers, he added.

“They should harvest the crop only when it is fully ripened. As per meteorology forecast, no heavy rains have been predicted and farmers do not have to worry,” he said.