Rain boon for Sirsa border region farmers as crop prospects revive

Rainfall in the Pentalisa region of Nathusari Chopta in Sirsa district, near the Rajasthan border, has brought much needed relief from scorching heat and benefited kharif (summer) crops spread across 27,000 hectares. Farmers and locals alike have welcomed the rain, which has helped reduce dust storms and eased high temperatures.

According to reports, crops such as BT cotton (23,000 hectares), desi cotton (3,000 hectares), groundnut (320 hectares), summer moong (80 hectares), millet or bajra (100 hectares), and sorghum or jowar (300 hectares) have already been sown. Paddy has been planted on just 10 hectares so far. The recent rain is being seen as a lifeline for these crops, especially after weeks of dry and dusty weather.

However, despite the rainfall, around 35,000 hectares remain unsown due to lack of canal water. With the sowing window for BT cotton now closed, the farmers are expected to focus on guar and bajra, which can still be planted in the coming days if there is more rain.

Last year, BT cotton was planted on 36,000 hectares, but this season, that number has dropped by about 10,000 hectares, mainly due to water shortages.

Local farmers, including Rajendra Singh, Mahesh Kumar, Nishant Saharan, Devilal, and Raj Kumar said the rain did not only help their crops but also ended the discomfort caused by frequent dust storms. They believe the recent rainfall will improve crop yields and reduce irrigation needs for now.

Several villages in the region, including Kagdana, Kumharia, Kheri, Chaharwala, Jogiwala, Rampura Nawabad, Jasania, Rajpura Sahni, Gusaiana, Bakrianwali, Gudiya Khera, Madhosinghana, and Dhookra reported light rain, bringing hope for better farming conditions.

Dr Shailender Saharan, Agriculture Development Officer, Nathusari Chopta, confirmed that the rainy season has just started and the rain will help kharif crops. “If it continues, the farmers can still sow guar, bajra, and moong in unsown fields,” he said.

The farmers are now waiting for more rain, hoping it will allow them to make full use of the remaining land and recover from the setbacks caused by reduced canal water supply.