Rain flattens paddy crop in Dharamsala, nearby areas

Heavy rain that lashed Dharamsala and its surrounded areas in the last 24 hours have damaged paddy crops. The farmers are alleging that paddy crop which was ready for harvesting has been flattened.

Suresh Chaudhary, a farmer from Kangra, said that heavy rain has damaged his paddy crop. The untimely rains are likely to reduce the paddy yield in the entire region, he said.

Agriculture experts have already been warning the farmers regarding the climate change due to global warming. Generally, rains used to start in Kangra valley from the month of July and end by September 15. The cropping pattern in Kangra valley was according to that.

The farmers sow paddy in the month of July with the start of rains and the crop benefited from monsoons. However, this year there were drought like conditions in Kangra valley in the months of July and August. In September, however, the heavy rains lashed the region.

The agriculture experts have advised the farmers to adjust their cropping pattern as per changing patterns as per rains in the region.