Erratic rain, high temp hit Solan vegetable growers

Ambika Sharma

Tribune News Service

Solan, August 9

Vegetable growers have suffered 15 to 35 per cent losses due to abnormally higher temperature and scanty rain in the Solan area for the past few months.

“While the dry conditions have delayed the sowing of vegetables like capsicum, cucumber, long and bitter guard, tomato, brinjal, etc., the lack of moisture has affected the plant growth,” said Ajay Kumar, a farmer of Shiller village in Kasauli tehsil.

Vegetables sensitive to change in weather

During the summer, an abrupt increase in temperature was observed along with scanty rainfall. Vegetables are very sensitive to change in weather conditions, especially temperature and moisture contents in air and soil. — Dr Happy Dev Sharma, head of Department, Vegetable Science, Nauni varsity

High temperatures in June and July led to wilting of many crops as the plants did not get the required moisture to withstand the heat, added Kumar.

This has decreased the plant yield by 15 to 35 per cent. “The harvesting, which usually began in June and lasted till August, has been reduced to less than a month. Farmers were likely to incur more losses,” said Jagdish, a farmer of Chabal in Kasauli.

Data of the agro-meteorological observatory, Department of Environmental Science, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry, Nauni, indicated that the region received 31 per cent less rain (97.6 mm) than the normal of 142.9 mm in June. In July, the deficiency was 32.5 per cent as only 170.6 mm rain was received against the normal of 252.5 mm. In both months, there were long dry spells along with the rise in the maximum temperature.

In July, the average maximum temperature was 29.7°C against the normal of 28.2°C.

Due to the poor monsoon, vegetable crops have been affected as there was not enough moisture in the soil, said Dr Happy Dev Sharma, head of the Department, Vegetable Science, Nauni varsity.

“During the summer, an abrupt increase in temperature was observed along with scanty rainfall. Vegetables are very sensitive to change in weather conditions, especially temperature and moisture contents in air and soil,” added the scientist.

Vegetables like tomato, capsicum, okra and bean were affected to the tune of 30-35 per cent with respect to growth and yield due to less rain and high temperature, he said, adding that pest attack worsened the situation.