Light rainfall, wind hit wheat procurement

Tribune News Service

Patiala, April 19

The procurement process at the Patiala grain market was hit again by a light rainfall coupled with winds in many parts of the city on Thursday evening, thereby dashing the hopes of farmers. With the second rainfall in the 72 hours has, obviously, slowed the process of procurement.

The unfavorable weather conditions are likely to delay crop harvesting, thus further affecting the wheat procurement process.

The threat of damage looms large over the standing wheat crop, as well, following high-velocity winds with light rains. Post-inclement weather conditions, besides waterlogging in fields and flattening of standing crop have been reported from several villages of Patiala.

As per the India Meteorological Department, at least 1 mm of rainfall has been recorded with a wind speed of 26 km per hour. The wheat yield unloaded at purchasing centres has hugely suffered due to the rain. The farmers will now have to remove water and moisture from the yield before selling it.

In this wheat season, around 5 lakh metric tonnes of wheat has arrived in the 105 grain markets of the district till Thursday evening. However, the lifting process has to be expedited. Farmers are having a tough time as there is no space left for them to place wheat in the new grain market due to the slow lifting of wheat.

The fresh spell of rain is enough to add moisture to wheat seeds both in harvested and standing crop,” said a farming expert.