Chandigarh, March 28
Rana Kushalpal of Mohali’s Khizrabad village is a worried man, like scores of other farmers, after Thursday’s mild showers and prevailing overcast sky conditions. His wheat crop is ready for harvesting, but strong winds, rain and hail are threatening to destroy it.

With the weather god playing truant in the region, farmers of Punjab and Haryana —who were preparing for a bumper harvest — have now crossed their fingers. Agriculture departments of both states predict a good wheat yield and farmers are expecting to pocket Rs 1,350 a quintal (minimum support price) for their produce.

However, today light to moderate rain lashed few places in Punjab and Haryana. In Punjab, Patiala received the highest rain (1 mm), while in Haryana, Hisar received 3mm rain. The Met Department has predicted high-speed winds and thundershowers across the region in the next 48 hours. Farmers are worried that the winds could lead to dislodging of the wheat crop.

Dr KK Gill, assistant agro meteorologist at Ludhiana’s Punjab Agricultural University, told The Tribune that cloudy sky and thundershowers were expected in the next 48 hours. “We expect a storm, but it will not be intense. Damage to the standing crop is unlikely. However, we have advised farmers not to irrigate their fields for the next 48 hours,” she said.

MS Sandhu, director of Punjab’s Agriculture Department, said no damage to crops was reported yet, but the next 48 hours were crucial. “We are hoping that there is no hail storm in the next 48 hours as it could adversely impact the standing wheat crop,” he said.

Punjab is expecting record wheat production of 161.59 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) this year. Bulk of the crop is likely to arrive in markets and procurement centres after Baisakhi. A record 140 LMT is expected to be procured by state agencies and the FCI.

Haryana is expecting its wheat production to touch 124 LMT this year.

BS Duggal, assistant director of agriculture, Haryana, said though the rainfall was light till now, it could impact the mustard crop being harvested by farmers.