Ambala: Hailstorm left oilseed, wheat crops battered

Nitish Sharma

Ambala, February 5

The recent hailstorm has affected wheat crop in nearly 23,485 acre, and oilseed crop in nearly 3,750 acre in the Naraingarh and Shahzadpur blocks of the district.

As per a survey by the agriculture department, while 0-25 per cent wheat crop was affected in 1,485 acre, 26-50 per cent was affected in nearly 22,000 acre. Similarly, oilseed crop, including toria and mustard crop, 26-50 per cent crop was affected in 60 acre, while 51-75 per cent was affected in 3,700 acre.

As per a department official, while toria crop in the district is at harvesting stage, mustard crop is at flowering and pod formation stage. Wheat is at vegetative and panicle initiation stage.

The Deputy Director Agriculture (DDA), Ambala, Dr Jasvinder Saini, said, “After the hailstorm, there were reports of damage in wheat and oilseed crops. A survey was conducted by the department and a report has been prepared by field staff. We are expecting that the crops may witness some recovery in the coming days. No loss was reported from other areas.”

Similarly, vegetable farmers have also suffered loss in both blocks due to inclement weather and hailstorm. As per a report compiled by the Horticulture Department, onion crop has been affected in 345 acre and potato in 130 acre.

In Naraingarh block, potato crop was affected in 60 acre and onion in 30 acre. Pear and chili was affected in an acre each. In Shahzadpur block, onion crop was affected in 315 acre, potato in 70 acre and cauliflower in 4 acre.

Dr Dinesh Kumar, District Horticulture Consultant, said, “Hailstorm has affected onion and potato crops. Unless there is occurrence of hailstorm again, any further loss in vegetable crops is unlikely.”