Bathinda, June 18
Mild to moderate rain in the region in the ongoing paddy sowing season has come as a respite for farmers. Agricultural experts opine it will prove beneficial for many crops. Apart from paddy, it is also good for orchardists and vegetable growers.
Showers have reduced their dependence on pumps to irrigate their fields during and after transplantation. It has also brought smiles on the faces of farmers who had been worried as their cotton crop had started drying due to a long dry spell in the region.
Farmers are hopeful of a bumper crop that if the rain continues in the coming days. The paddy transplantation started in Malwa on June 17. With the fresh rainfall, paddy transplantation has picked up pace in the region.
Jagsir Singh, a farmer from Goniana, said: “Rain at this time of paddy transplantation is a boon for farmers. Not only will it provide water for sowing, but also reduce expenses on diesel. The rain will take the load off the power department as well.”
Another farmer Gurjant Singh said, “The timing is right as both crops and vegetables sown during this time of the year will benefit from it. If all goes well, the farmers will harvest a bumper yield this season”. The rain has also brought respite from sultry weather in Bathinda district where maximum temperature was hovering around 45deg;C these days.
Rain brings respite, paddy sowing picks up in Punjab
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