Light rain in parts of Punjab and Haryana during the 14 days of January has been welcomed by farmers who have sown wheat. It may have added a little more to the cold weather, leaving people shivering but surely has raised hopes of better yield in the fields of Punjab and Haryana.
During the first 14 days of the month, several places in Punjab and Haryana have received rain that is sufficient for a good wheat harvest.
Panchkula in Haryana has received 11.1 mm of rain so far in January, followed by Ambala with 10.7 mm of rain, Yamunanagar with 10.0 mm and Sonepat with 8.7 mm of rain so far.
Gurdaspur in Punjab has received rain of 6.1 mm till now, Moga 9 mm and Ropar 22.7 mm of rain so far.
The light and widespread rain in several places is expected to be beneficial for rabi crop wheat but potato. Light rain delivers sufficient winter moisture to the wheat crop that is Important to improve the root tone of the wheat and ultimately having a good wheat crop and yield.
Potato seeds, however, could be negatively affected as rabi crop does not require heavy application of water due to possible decaying of tubers.
Punjab has about 35 lakh hectares under wheat cultivation as against 25 lakh hectares in Haryana. Farmers going through the inconvenience of power cuts and adequate irrigation facilities have welcomed the second spell of light rain in last 2 days. With the urea application after the showers, wheat crop is likely to have a bumper harvest this season.
