Rain, wind flatten basmati crop in Haryana

Parveen Arora

Tribune News Service

Karnal, October 24

Rain accompanied by strong wind that lashed the region on Sunday afternoon flattened the basmati crop in the fields. It has exposed the arrangements made in different grain markets of Karnal as rain soaked the paddy in the mandis.

Board given orders

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I have given directions to the officials of the Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board to make arrangements to cover produce. — Nishant Kumar Yadav, DC

Untimely rain

Rain was not required at this time. Rain and heavy wind have flattened the basmati crop. It will result in less yield. — Naresh Kumar, Farmer of Nilokheri block

Most stock covered

A majority of the stock was covered and under the sheds. So, there was no loss due to the rain. But it has delayed things. — Diler Singh, secretary, Market committee

Farmers said untimely rain has flattened the paddy crop which will result in damage to the grain as well as less yield.

As per the information available, the area under paddy cultivation in the district usually remains 1.7 lakh hectares, comprising 60 per cent non-basmati and the remaining under basmati. But this year, the area of basmati was reduced to 35 per cent and the area under non-basmati varieties was increased to 65 per cent. Around 80 per cent of the PR paddy has been harvested so far, but the basmati varieties are at the maturing stage.

Rajnish Chaudhary, president, Karnal Arhtiyas Association, said that the rainfall has highlighted the poor arrangement in the grain markets by the authorities. The paddy bags lying in the open got soaked in the rain water due to improper arrangements.

Nishant Kumar Yadav, Deputy Commissioner, said that around 80 per cent of the procured paddy has been lifted from the grain markets. It was the duty of the arhtiyas also to provide polythene and sheets to the farmers to cover their produce. “I have given directions to the officials of the Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board to make arrangements,” he added.

The situation was almost the same in Panipat and Sonepat districts. In Sonepat, hailstorms were also reported in some villages — Rohat, Nakloi, Kakroi, Bhatgaon, Fatehpur, Kharkhoda, Khanda and others due to which the crop got damaged. Untimely hail and rain at the peak of the paddy harvesting season have left farmers worried.

As the crop was ready for harvesting, it had got heavy. Due to wind and rain, the crop got flattened in the fields.

In Panipat, the main paddy crop is of basmati and the harvesting would have started in a week. The actual report of crop loss would come to the fore on Monday morning, he added.

In Ambala, unwanted rainfall has not only drenched the paddy stock, but has also affected harvesting in the district.