Solan, six other districts rain deficient, fruit crops to suffer

Solan figures among seven rain deficit districts of the state in winter rainfall even as the quantum of rain during the month of February was 52.3 per cent higher than the average rain.

Chamba, Lahaul Spiti, Una, Hamirpur, Kangra and Sirmaur are the other rain deficit districts where average precipitation received has been much lower than the normal in the twin months of January-February while the state on a whole is 26 per cent rain deficit in the two months.

An analysis of the data from the Department of Environment Sciences, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, revealed that Solan faces a deficit of 33.1 per cent for the winter rains which lash the area from November to February. With a prolonged dry spell prevailing in the state, the months of November and December had received nil rain as against the usual rain of 9.3 mm and 28.9 mm, respectively, for the two months.

In January too, the deficit continued as merely 4.8 mm rain was received as against the normal rainfall of 59.4 mm. The deficiency was as much as 91.9 mm which had left the agrarian community as well as the Jal Shakti Department worried.

Though the rain gods obliged the area in February with the total precipitation being 107.8 mm as against the normal rainfall of 52.3 mm but it has failed to undo the deficit which stands at a whopping 33.1 per cent.

“Prolonged water stress conditions have caused irreversible damage not only to the Rabi crops but the stone and pome fruits where lesser chilling due to rise in temperature may result in erratic flowering. This will adversely affect quality and yield,” said Dr Satish Bhardwaj, Head of Department, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni.

Ajay Kumar, a grower of seasonal vegetables at Shiller village in Kasauli, said the crop was as less as 35 per cent due to lack of timely rain and delayed sowing.

Stone fruit growers, who cultivate plum, peach and apricot, are worried at the early and erratic flowering in their orchards. Since it is the main cash crop of Solan and adjoining Sirmaur district, the growers fear they will incur losses like last year due to lack of yield.