Agricultural experts have warned of potential paddy crop damage after Ludhiana received fresh showers accompanied by gusty winds. India Meteorological Department (IMD) in this context, issued rain and thunderstorm alerts for the next two days. Punjab, this year has already received a subsequent amount of rainfall which led to floods in the different part of the region followed by the crop losses across the state. The unexpected showers in the wee hours came as a grim preview of the challenges that could lie ahead especially for those in the midst of harvesting their paddy crop. A wave of anxiety gripped farmers across the district.
Agricultural Experts Warn of Paddy Crop Damage Post Heavy Rainfall and Gusty Winds
The IMD recorded 4.4 mm of rainfall till morning. Punjab farmers who have already faced crop losses due to heavy rainfall are now under a wave of anxiety. Though the government announced compensation for flood affected farmers which also includes 2 lakh quintals of wheat seeds free of cost to flood-affected farmers, farmers are worried that rainfall in the midst of the paddy harvesting can lead to subsequent damage. An agriculture expert also said that rain with gusty winds can lead to lodging in the crop, which affects both the quality and yield. Notably, paddy harvesting began a few days ago and lodging can affect the yields. The agriculture department expects yields of 29–30 quintals per acre across 2.57 lakh acres under paddy cultivation
Farmers who had already harvested their produce were seen rushing to cover with tarpaulins to avoid paddy crop damage. However, the lack of adequate shed facilities at grain markets added to their woes. Paddy required spraying of fungicides during the milking stage, but farmers could not do so due to continuous rain said chief agriculture officer Gurdeep Singh. Paddy transplantation in Ludhiana began on July 9 this year and approx. 2.57 lakh hectares were cultivated this Kharif season. The district administration started paddy procurement on September 16, and so far, 58,000 metric tonnes of paddy have reached the mandis. Rainfall can also temporarily slow down the arrival of paddy in the mandis.