Rain in several places of Punjab and Haryana on Thursday has left the farmers worried in Haryana and Punjab, the food bowl of the country, where wheat is slated to be harvested from April 1.
There is more trouble for the crop ready to be harvested as the local Meteorological department has forecast more rains at a few places in the two states until Friday.
Punjab Mandi Board president Ajmer Singh lakhowal said that wheat procurement was set to begin soon and if heavy rains or hailstorm occured at this stage, they could be damage the crop. Both Haryana and Punjab are expecting a record procurement of wheat this season.
Bharatiya Kisan Union (Rajewal) president BS Rajewal said that farmers in the two states were praying and keeping their fingers crossed in the hope that it does not rain. "No farmer wants rains at this stage, even if these were to fall down in the form of drops of gold. The wheat and oilseed crops are ready and if there is heavy rain or hail followed by high velocity winds, then farmers, who are eyeing a bumper crop, will suffer heavy loss," Rajewal said.
A MeT official said that current change in the weather was due to a western disturbance over north Pakistan and adjoining J&K.