Met forecasts more rain: Boon for paddy farmers

This week is expected to be rainy as per weathermen from Chandigarh Meterological Centre. As per their fresh forecast, from July 27 till August 1, weather will remain partly cloudy with possibility of rain or thunderstorm.

As per farmers and agricultural experts, rainy days as of now will be a boon for the paddy farmers, but bane for vegetable growers. Last Saturday, heavy rainfall damaged different kinds of vegetables due to which farmers were under extreme stress. They also pointed out that like wheat and paddy farmers, they have never been helped financially by the state government when such losses are faced by them.

Chief agricultural officer (CAO) Sukhpal Singh Sekhon said, “For paddy, rainy days are very fruitful, but so is not the case with vegetables. Regular rainy days go against the maturing of vegetables and some of them even die in such circumstances.”

Davinder Singh, a vegetable farmer, said, “Rainy days are a matter of worry for vegetable growers, but state government offers us no help when we suffer losses. I grow different vegetables in an area of 15-20 acres. Due to rainfall in the past week, I know the produce will be zero. The chilli crop has also been infected with fungus and all other vegetables are not going to mature any more as they are almost dead.”

Date Minimum temperature Maximum temperature

July 27 25 36

July 28 25 36

July 29 25 35

July 30 24 35

July 31 24 33

Aug 1 25 33

(Source: Meteorological Centre, Chandigarh; temperature in celsius)