Farmers at huge losses as rainfall lashes parts of Punjab
With rains lashing several parts of the region over the past couple of days, cotton and paddy farmers are at loss, apprehending a considerable crop loss.
Cotton farmers are the worst hit as the rainfall has arrived just when they were close to harvesting what could have been a bumper crop.
Meeha Singh of Gobindpura village, a small farmer who had sown cotton on his 1-acre land, said, “Had the weather remained dry for another week, I would have reaped a rich harvest, but all my hopes are dashed. I had a tough time rearing the cotton crop, protecting it from threats such as white fly. However, the rain has now led to moisture in blooming cotton bolls, a majority of which have also blackened.”
Jarnail Singh, another cotton farmer said he apprehends losing at least 25 per cent of the yield due to an unexpected spell of rainfall at the fag-end of the season.PAU’s senior farm economist Dr GS Romana said, “The rains could not have come at a worse time for the cotton farmers, as they were about to reap a rich harvest.
However, the rainfall will now lead to discolouration of cotton, affecting its quality, besides taking a toll on its productivity. In case of paddy too, the lodging of crop will adversely affect its quality and yield.”
Meanwhile, the paddy farmers are equally dejected, particularly the ones who had opted for early varieties. Lachhman Singh from Gobindpura village said, “I have sown paddy on 15 acres, which I had taken on lease at a rate of Rs 53,000 per acre. The rainfall, accompanied by strong winds, has led to flattening of crop and now I fear whether I would be able to take home some money after shelling out the hefty lease amount.”
-PTC News
