Untimely rain spells bad news for rabi crops

NEW DELHI: Untimely rain, which hit many parts of the country in the past 48 hours, may affect the overall yield of wheat in north India and other Rabi crops in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra if it continues for a longer period.

Though farmers in Maharashtra have already reported damage to standing crops, including pulses and oilseeds, and grapes, the situation is not as alarming in Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh.

"The situation is not alarming right now in north India. But if rains along with high wind speed persist for a longer period this month, it may affect the standing crops including wheat," said KV Prabhu, joint director of Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI).

He said the institute had checked the ground situation with farmers in all the states, which received rainfalls in the past two days, and passed on necessary precautionary instructions to them.

Scientists of the institute and Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) pointed out that the rain and low temperature are not good for Rabi crops which are in the process of grain formation. Therefore, the farmers have been advised not to let water stagnate in their fields.

Officials in the agriculture ministry have also been closely monitoring the situation. It was found that the rains and hailstorm had already affected the standing crops in Maharashtra.

Agriculture minister Sharad Pawar is learnt to have spoken to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over phone on Monday and apprised him of the situation, specifically in Maharashtra, his home state where standing crops have been affected in Beed, Ahmednagar and Ormanabad districts among others.

Since the model code of conduct has been in force, the government can provide any relief to affected farmers only after taking permission from the Election Commission. "After taking permission from the EC, we will recommend compensating the affected farmers," said Pawar after visiting many affected districts.

These untimely rains will, however, not affect Rabi rice. Latest reports from the states show that the area under Rabi rice as on February 28 stands at 40.89 lakh hectare as compared to 33.10 lakh hectare at this time last year.

Overall, the total Rabi-sown area stands at 663.06 lakh hectare as compared to 627.66 lakh hectare in February last year. Wheat occupies the maximum area (315 lakh hectare) followed by pulses (162 lakh hectare), oilseeds (91 lakh hectare) and coarse cereals (61 lakh hectare).