Untimely rain and thundershowers since Saturday night have caused extensive damage to the standing Rabi crops especially wheat, mustard and gram in several parts of the country, including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana.
As per the reports, crops such as wheat, bengal gram, jowar, orange, grapes, mango, papaya, pomegranate, onion and other vegetables have also suffered huge damage. Meanwhile, Met Department has predicted that light to moderate rain and thundershowers will continue over many parts till April 11.
According to Skymet Weather, these rain and thundershowers could be attributed to the western disturbance that can be seen over North Pakistan and adjoining Jammu & Kashmir. In association to this weather system, there is an induced cyclonic circulation, which is over east central Pakistan and adjoining northwest Rajasthan and Haryana.
According to Met Department, Gulmarg recorded 28 mm of rain, Shimla 27 mm, Qazigund 18 mm, Una 14 mm, Jammu 8 mm, Mandi 6 mm, Dharamsala 5 mm, Bhuntar 3 mm, and Manali 2 mm. Traces of rain were also seen over Mukteshwar Kumaon, Dehradun, Tehri, and Pantnagar during the last 24 hours. “Higher reaches of Kashmir and Himachal may also witness isolated snowfall. Areas of Gulmarg, Keylong, leh, Rohtang Pass may witness snowfall activity,” the Skymet weather said.
The unseasonal rain over the Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, especially hailstorm, has earlier resulted in severe crop damage in February and March this year.
So far, damage to rabi crops like wheat and mustard and chickpea has been reported from Punjab, Bihar, UP, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra in the past two three days. It could end up being a double whammy for farmers, given the additional burden of falling prices. Usually, the wheat harvest in northern India begins from April 1 while in Madhya Pradesh, farmers commences harvesting from middle of March. It is estimated that farmers are expected to bear output loss of 20-40 per cent in the wake of this unseasonal rain and thundershowers.
“The extent of damage cannot be ascertained as the State Governments are yet to collect data on crop loss. The district administrations will soon conduct a survey to gauge crop damage and loss suffered by farmers in their respective areas. The report will be sent to the Agriculture Ministry,” an official with the agriculture ministry said, requesting anonymity.
As per reports, several tonnes of wheat destroyed at Karnal’s Nissing Mandi due to untimely rain since Saturday night in Haryana. There are reports from West Bengal that gram and potato have hit hard. “The unseasonal rain during the past one week damaged the crops, in Wanaparthy, Gadwal, Nagarkurnool and Mahbubnagar districts in Telangana. The districts of Wanaparthy and Mahbubnagar mango farmers suffered huge crop loss. The mango plantations in Mahbubnagar have been hit hard,” it said.
On the other hand, the Northeastern States have been recording on and off pre-Monsoon rain for the last many days. These pre-Monsoon showers were accompanied with squally winds and lightning strikes in parts. As per Skymet Weather, a trough from West Rajasthan is extending up to West Assam across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal. Moreover, a cyclonic circulation is also seen over West Bengal and adjoining Bangladesh. In fact, light to moderate rain and thundershowers with squally winds are expected at isolated parts over Dimapur, Kohima, longleng, Mokokchung, Peren, Mon, Wokha, Zunheboto, Kiphire, Phek, and Tuensang districts of Nagaland during the next four days as well.