NATURE’S GIFT The prevailing weather conditions in the state will not only help farmers protect their crops from various diseases, but also fetch them good yield, says expert
FARMERS ADVISED NOT TO GIVE CROP OVERDOSE OF UREA AND OTHER FERTILISERS TO PROTECT THEIR CROPS
PATIALA: Even though the bonechilling cold and foggy weather has paralysed life in the district, the weather has come as a boon to the farmers as it will help increase the yield of various rabi crops.
The ongoing weather conditions will not only help farmers protect their crops from various diseases, but also fetch them good return at end of the season.
Though the issue of shortage of urea has caused a big concern among farmers, the prevailing weather conditions has boosted the spirit of farmers who have sown rabi crops such as wheat, barley, mustard, sunflower, pulses and beans.
According to the information, wheat has covered maximum area, around 2.25 lakh hectare, under cultivation.
Chief agriculture officer Jasbir Singh Sandhu said: “The ongoing weather conditions has proved beneficial to the farmers, as not a single report of any disease, especially to wheat crop, has been reported from across the district.”
Sandhu said his teams had MY TEAMS HAVE BEEN VISITING FIELDS REGULARLY TO SEE THE GROWTH OF VARIOUS CROPS AND, SO FAR, THE RESULT HAS BEEN SATISFACTORY JASBIR SINGH SANDHU, chief agriculture officer, Patiala been regularly visiting fields to see the growth of various crops and, so far, the result had been satisfactory. It would bring better results this season, he hoped.
“Even experts from Punjab Agriculture University’s Krishi Vigyan Kendra at Rauni are satisfied with the growth of the crops”, said Sandhu.
“Bright sunny days and colder nights are perfect weather condition for the development of wheat and other rabi crops, which are presently in their vegetative growth,” said Sandhu.
“The prevailing weather conditions will help increase grains yield potential, thus increasing the yield at the end of the harvesting season,” he said.
However, the agriculture department has appealed to the farmers not to spray urea and other fertilisers blindly to protect their crops and has asked them to keep a tab on weather conditions and temperature.
Though prevailing weather conditions have not affected the growth of vegetables, but frost-like conditions in coming days can adversely affect the growth and yield of vegetables, especially potatoes. Therefore, the vegetable growers have been suggested to cover their crops with polythene sheets or use low-tunnel technique to protect vegetables from the cold waves.