Showers leave farmers worried

Tribune News Service
Amritsar, April 16

Mild showers with high-velocity winds have left farmers worried as they are eagerly waiting to harvest their wheat crop. The area has witnessed mild showers at nights in the past three days.

Farmers fear that even if rain does not damage to the crop, it will certainly increase the moisture content in grains.

On the other hand, Agriculture officials said weather conditions might trigger panic while harvesting, which would cause problems at markets.

“As the winter session was prolonged, grains have more moisture content at present, which would further increase with showers. In such a situation, if farmers harvest the crop, procurement agencies will not buy it,” said a field agriculture officer.

Farmers in villages said though harvesting has not started, the weather has increased their fear and they were keeping their fingers crossed.

Chief Agriculture Officer Dr Dalbir Singh Chinna said the weather was expected to be cleared by Thursday. He added that farmers are surely worried, but no loss had been reported so far.