First it was the unusually warm winter and now the unseasonal rainfall, Indian agriculture continues to go through a rough patch. While State Governments have begun assessments of damage to crops due to the showers in the past few days, agriculture experts say there is already 10 to 15 per cent damage to Rabi crops, both standing in the field and those already harvested but lying in the fields. However, on a positive note, the experts say the damage to crops this year has been far less compared to that caused by heavy rainfall in March last year.
Fruit and vegetable crops too have suffered in some areas. “There will certainly be loss in yield as pollen grains have got washed out. Now the moisture in the soil will cause fungal infection impacting vegetable crops further. The size and shape of fruits will also be hit due to hail,” said Dr S Yadav, Deputy Director, Centre for Excellence for Vegetables in Karnal.
The farmers are tense as more rainfall and strong winds are expected around March 18 to 21. Rain and thundershowers are predicted over western Himalayan region, plains of North-West India, North-East and peninsular India and North-Eastern States. Besides, there can be heavy rainfall and snow at isolated places over Jammu & Kashmir, apart from thunderstorms accompanied by squalls and hail at isolated places over Jammu division, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Uttarakhand.
The standing wheat crop seems to have been hit the most by the unseasonal showers. “The wheat crop had pods which now needed maturing. But due to the strong winds, there is root lodging in wheat plants and entire crops in several regions of Haryana, Punjab, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh have fallen flat. Now the plant will not get enough nutrients due to which the yield will be less and grains will be smaller than normal,” said Dr Narendra Pratap, Director, Indian Institute of Pulses Research, Kanpur.
Among oilseeds, mustard crops have borne the freak weather’s brunt. luckily in case of pulses, 50 per cent of the crop like brown chickpea, lentil and pea has already been harvested.
“Though, with the harvest lying in the fields for a long time can result in poor quality pulses,” Pratap added.
With incessant rainfall in Kashmir Valley’s plains and snowfall in upper reaches, the cold weather descended at a time when almond groves and mustard fields are in full bloom, giving orchardists and farmers cause to worry.
“The weather has taken an undesirable turn at a time when almond bloom is at its best. If it continues, the bloom will wither away causing huge damage to almond crop”, said horticulture expert Dr Shamim Ahmad.
“Rainfall at the time of bloom is detrimental and we fear a sharp decline in the crop this year”, Ali Muhammad Shah, an orchardist in south Kashmir told The Pioneer. Kashmir produces around 10,000 tons of almonds annually.
Mustard crops in the Valley are also in dire straits. “This year the winter was unusually warm and passed off without any heavy snowfall or cold wave. This resulted in early bloom in mustard fields. Continuation of the cold wave for more than a week can have an adverse effect on the crop”, said Farooq Ahmad, an agriculture officer.
Unexpected rainfall in large parts of Uttar Pradesh in the last two days has resulted in damage to crops in several parts of the State. “Reports of devastation are pouring in. In western UP around 30 per cent of the wheat is damaged. In many districts, wheat crop has been flattened,” Rajendra Dixit, a senior official in agriculture department said. He said though it was too early to estimate, the loss could be in the range of Rs 500 crore.
“We are assessing the situation and after getting the real figures we will collate the damage,” said Vinod Tiwari, Director, UP Council of Agricultural Research (UPCAR). Apart from wheat and mustard crop in places like Saharanpur and lucknow mango crop too also suffered. Besides, loss in potato crop has also been reported from central UP.
Heavy showers were reported from Varanasi, Bhadohi, Kaushambi, Mirzapur and Pratapgarh districts. A heavy hailstorm struck Ghoorpur and other parts of Allahabad district. Maximum rain was reported from Ghazipur with 27.6 mm recorded followed by Varanasi with 11.2 mm rains. last year also unseasonal rains had damaged crop. The loss was pegged at Rs 4000 crore.