The unseasonal light rains over the last few days have wrecked havoc over the standing crops, especially cumin, wheat, mustard and chickpea across the state.

State agriculture in-charge director S R Chaudhary said, "We have initiated data collection in all districts to assess the exact situation of any possible crop damage or loss. Rain may play spoilsport for those crops that are ready for harvest, mainly wheat and cumin." He said even the mango crop may face some decrease in total produce owing to the inclement weather conditions.

This weather, however, might do well for those crops that are at the grain filling stage, but that is only if if there is no pest attack. Agricultural scientists, however, insist that pest attack increases under such conditions. This has led to the state agriculture department issuing an advisory for farmers to protect their crops from possible pest attack using pesticides and other remedies.

Chaudhary said cumin has been sown in 2.5 lakh hectares of land in the state, while wheat has been sown in 14 lakh hectares of land.

Anand Agriculture University pro-vice-chancellor Prof M C Varshneya said, “Unseasonal rains will damage mature crops while those at the growth and grain filling stage will stand to benefit under such a weather." Wheat, mustard, cumin and chickpea are likely to face some produce loss while mangoes at the flowering or fruit formation stage will also face a major loss, he said.