Heavy rain damages paddy crop, farmers suffer losses

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, September 22

Having suffered crop losses this year due to delayed arrival of the monsoon, farmers are again on the receiving end as the late withdrawal of monsoon and the untimely rain accompanied by winds have flattened the paddy crop. Major damage has reportedly been caused to basmati and potato crops.

With just over two weeks left for the harvesting of paddy, a fresh spell of heavy rain has not only caused damage to the standing crop, but also delayed the sowing of seasonal vegetables. In some areas of the district, farmers fear that the harvesting of standing paddy crop could also be delayed by one more week.

Heavy downpour, which started early in the morning on Tuesday, continued till

Wednesday evening in the district.

“While the late arrival of monsoon for easy sowing of paddy had already affected the quality of rice saplings, the flattened crop would again get discoloured and we would face difficulties in selling it,” said Gurpal Singh, a paddy grower.

This year, due to the unavailability of rainwater and sufficient power supply, farmers had also reduced the area under paddy production. Cracks had developed in many regions owing to shortage

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