Rain Havoc: Farmers in Doaba brace for higher harvesting costs

Untimely rain has posed fresh challenges to farmers across Punjab, with wheat crops flattening in several fields and raising serious concerns about harvesting costs, yield losses and delay in the harvesting schedule. Farmers say that if the weather stabilises, harvesting will begin within a week, but the situation has already increased their financial and operational burden.

Sarabjit Singh, a farmer from Lohian, highlighted the sharp rise in harvesting expenses due to flattened crops. He said while the usual cost of harvesting a standing crop ranges between Rs 1,500 and Rs 2,000 per acre, the rate is likely to increase significantly in the affected fields. “Operating combine harvesters becomes much more difficult when crops are flattened, pushing up the cost,” he said. He also raised concerns about the quality of wheat straw, noting that prolonged moisture exposure could cause it to turn black and develop fungal infections, reducing its market value.

Ranjit Singh, a farmer from Boolpur village in Sultanpur Lodhi, echoed similar concerns about yield losses. While he described the overall situation in his area as manageable, he admitted that flattened patches in several fields, including his own, will impact productivity. “Even partial flattening affects grain formation and makes harvesting less efficient, which ultimately reduces the yield,” he said.

Adding to the concerns, Subeh Singh, a farmer from Nakodar, pointed out the additional financial strain farmers will face during harvesting. “We will have to shell out extra money for combine harvesting because of the flattened crop,” he said. However, he noted that the situation in their region is still relatively better compared to the Malwa belt, where reports of damage are more severe.

Farmers across the region remain worried that continued erratic weather could further escalate input costs while cutting into yields. For many, the coming days will be crucial in determining the extent and gravity of the problem and the overall impact on their livelihoods.

Chief Agriculture Officer Jaswinder Singh stated that the overall situation in Jalandhar is under control. “Crops on more than 100 acres are likely to have been flattened,” he said.