Dry spell likely to hit growth of wheat crop in Punjab

Dry spell likely to hit growth of wheat crop in Punjab
BAJINDER PAL SINGH

CHANDIGARH, JANUARY 4: Lack of rains this season has not only led to a decline in the sowing area of wheat, but also threatens to result in stunted growth of the wheat crop in the region. About 20,000 hectares of land is still lying unsown, particularly in the Kandi area of Punjab, owing to the absence of rains. The dry season, if it continues, can result in both retarding the proper growth of the crop and increasing the cost of cultivation.

To add to the dry spell-- the last rains were reported on October 1 --the average mean temperature in the region has also remained on the higher side. The mean temperature this year has been two to three degrees higher than previous years, which is detrimental to proper grain formation.

Agriculture experts observe that the entire rabi crop, especially wheat and oilseeds, are likely to be affected by the dry season in both Punjab and Haryana. Officials of the Punjab Agriculture Department feel that tillering of the crop would not be proper and this could resultin a bad growth pattern. Similarly, dry spell also results in blocking of the somata, thereby decreasing the rate of photosynthesis.

Punjab's Agriculture Director Capt Deep Singh Sahota, however, says that the situation is not alarming and that in case the region sees rainfall in the next week, the situation would normalise. ``Even 5 mm of rainfall is enough, but this season we have not seen even these rains,'' says Capt Sahota. Similarly, Sarwan Singh, Haryana's Agriculture Director, says the dry season has resulted in delayed sowing of wheat in some parts of the state.

``Cost of crop cultivation could go up in such a situation as a dry spell means greater water requirement,'' says Capt Sahota. Water requirement of plants leads to greater stress on irrigation facilities, and this in turn results in increased pressure on electricity and diesel. In the long run, more focus on tubewells and the sub-soil water-level falls further, he adds.

While both Punjab and Haryana agriculture departments feel that thesituation is not alarming, they hope for rains in the immediate future to lessen the pressure on areas where irrigation supplies are restricted. Parts of Gurdaspur, Ropar and Hoshiarpur districts in Punjab, and parts of Haryana which have less of canal irrigation like Narnaul and portions of Bhiwani district would be the ones facing the burden.

Though the agriculture departments have still not issued warnings, they feel that assured irrigation facilities and colder March and April could lead to normalisation of the situation.