Moisture content a worry

A senior agriculture officer,requesting anonymity,said that due to change of weather it is “next to impossible to control moisture content”.

Currently 19 to 20 per cent moisture is being noticed in the crop which may further increase. As per central government specifications,purchasing agencies will reject paddy if the moisture content is more then 17 per cent.

Another expert said the standing crop faces the threat of blackening of grains.

“Our crop is ready for harvest but unexpected rain is spoiling our hard work and not letting us harvest it,” said a farmer from Jalandhar,Harjeet Singh.

Even in the grain markets the farmers are not able to sell the crop due to discoloring and high moisture.

According to sources in the agriculture department,there are many districts where not even 10 per cent of the crop has been harvested. This year over 26 lakhs hectares area was under paddy crop in the state.

Due to prolonged rains the crop needs at least one more week to get ready for harvesting and we need good sunny days for the same which seems unlikely,said the Punjab Mandi Board chairman,Ajit Singh Lakhowal.

“Such weather conditions may increase the troubles of farmers as threat of damage and discolouring of grains cannot be ruled out. Currently moisture content is 19 per cent,which is more than permissible limits,and could go up to 20 per cent. We are demanding from the government to purchase paddy with such moisture content because of the difficult weather conditions,” Lakhowal added.