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Journalism of Courage
While today’s extended spell of rain may have given much-needed reprieve from the heat wave, it spells bad news for wheat farmers. The unexpected shower may prove disastrous for the crop, specially in states where harvesting is underway or in states where it is still lying in the field.
Since it was accompanied by hail in the North, it may also damage peach, pear and plum crop in the hills and the sunflower crop that was ready for harvest.
Even if there is enough sunshine and no rain for the next one week, say experts, the wheat crop is bound to suffer as there have been two heavy spells already in one week.
Fortunately other rabi crops have been harvested—barley in Bihar, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, jowar and maize in the South. Harvesting of pulses is in progress in all the states. Fearing the worst, Head of the Directorate of Wheat Research, Karnal, Jag Sharon, says: ‘‘The rain could be a catastrophe for wheat that has been harvested and lying in the fields, as it will soak water leading to loss of lustre and germination.’’
While harvesting is complete in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka and Rajasthan, it is in the final stages in Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana. However, in Bihar and UP, only 30 per cent of the crop has been harvested. In the hills—Himachal Pradesh and Uttaranchal—the situation is worse.
In case of the wheat crop lying in the field, rain can deteriorate grain quality through discolouration. If water stagnates around it, the stalks may start to germinate, destroying the crop completely. Considering the kind of protection mandis offer, even the wheat just brought in may suffer from increase in moisture content.
Where the rain will benefit is in the case of fodder crops, vegetables and fruit orchards, when not accompanied by hailstorm. It is also an opportunity for farmers to cultivate the fields vacated after the wheat harvest. Stubbles can be left in the soil instead of being burnt.
Summer pulses have been sown in Karnataka and this spell of rain will be good for this crop too. It will also help farmers preparing their fields for the coming kharif crop. Sowing of moong and cotton can be initiated. The rain is also good news for amla and neem, where just after flowering seeds are going to be set.
The current spell of rain is the result of a cyclonic circulation over central Pakistan and adjoining West Rajasthan, leading to a low-pressure area. The cyclonic trough extends from central parts of Madhya Pradesh to South Tamil Nadu, through Vidarbha, Madhya Maharashtra and Interior Karnataka.
This is why the rain has been fairly widespread—from Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal, Uttranchal to western and eastern UP, Bihar and Jharkhand and even Peninsular India. Above normal rains have also been recorded in Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttaranchal, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab. Delhi for example gets usually about 11.5 mm of rains in April, while it has got 67.5 mm this time.
Weather forecasters say more such thunder showers and rains are expected in the next 24 hours in Peninsular India and eastern states.
