M A I N   N E W S

Showers, hail wreak havoc on crops

HIMACHAL PRADESH
Apple crop ruined

A long spell of hail on Monday destroyed more than 70 per cent of apple fruit set in the lower areas and bloom in the higher altitude in Gohar and Karog areas, the major apple belts in Mandi district and the Lug and Kullu valley in Kullu district, dashing farmers’ hopes for an average crop to the ground. The hail also hit peas and vegetable crops in the region, sending shocks among farmers.

Punjab
Govt mulls special girdawari

The Punjab Government is considering a special girdawari to assess the loss caused to the wheat crop. Reports say that standing crop in over over 8,000 acres of land in the Malwa belt has been damaged by rain and hail. Nearly 90 per cent of the crop is yet to be harvested. Punjab is expecting 157 lakh tonnes of wheat, 4 per cent more than last year's yield, say official sources. 

Jammu & kashmir
Farmers told not to harvest crop

Following overnight rain and hailstorm at several places across the Jammu region on Sunday, the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Jammu, (SKUAST) has advised farmers to postpone the harvesting of wheat and barley crops till the weather turns sunny.