Heightened cold wave with the dipping mercury and erratic rainfall that lashed several parts of the country damaged the ongoing standing rabi crops and vegetable cultivations. The steel and coal belt of Jharkhand was also whipped by the cold wave and downpour for past few weeks.
Weather experts attributed the cause of dipping mercury and rainfall at this time of the year to mainly the northern disturbance.
According to a Meteorological department official, heavy snowfall in northern India and rains due to the emergence of any Low-Pressure Area or depression over the Bay of Bengal are adding to the crispness of weather in Jharkhand. “The chill has intensified because of the strong and dry currents hits vegetations as well as standing rabi crops,” added the official.
The coal and steel belt of Jharkhand experienced a minimum of 4 to 6.5 degrees Celsius temperature from the past fortnight; this unexpected Celsius free fall has spurred the cold wave, he said.
A cold wave modified by ground frost and dense to very dense fog is now weighing in on ‘rabi crops’ including vegetations in several parts of the district. It harmed the standing ‘rabi crop’ too, said P Mahato an official (Agriculture) of Krishi Vigyan Kendra Bokaro.
“However, it is too early to estimate the damage from cold wave and rainfall. If the temperature goes below 4 degree Celsius and continues for more than 12 hours may cause huge damage to rabi crops and vegetations,” he added.
“Potato, tomato, Pea, including mustard and its varieties, and leafy vegetables in several hectares of cultivable land were wilt in the pricing cold and due to dense fog and rain, create huge loss (in several lakhs rupees) to the farmers of Paterwar, Nawadih, Chandrapura, Gomia, Chandankiyari blocks of the district; largely hits to the farmers of Lodhi, Chatrochati, Chhutu, Karikhurd, Chidri, Sidhawar, Hurlung and in other villages under Chatrochatti Police station at Bermo.
“If such condition continues for few more days it will effect in large across the district,” said Shankar Mahato a farmer of Gomia block.
Akash Oraon, a farmer from Chandankiyari block, said rain at this time will help in containing the fungal disease yellow rust, but hailstorm will destroy the crop.
Fog and ground frost strike mostly in tandem and have contrasting implications on Rabi crop. Though rabi wheat may be less sensitive to frost, other crops such as mustard, gram and pulses are known to be extremely sensitive, said an expert.