MOGA – Light to moderate showers lashed most parts of the Malwa belt in the state during the past 24 hours, easing the foggy weather condition and bringing cheer to the farming community. This is the first rainfall in the current rabi season.
Agricultural experts have stated that rain during this period is beneficial for wheat, mustard and other rabi crops.
While Moga received an average of 3.6 mm rainfall, most parts of Ferozepur and Fazilka districts received 3 to 6 mm of rainfall today.
There were also reports of rainfall in Faridkot, Muktsar, Bathinda, Mansa, Fazilka, Barnala, Sangrur and Ludhiana districts.
The minimum temperature in the region was at least one to six degrees above normal. The minimum temperature in Moga was 9.5 degrees Celsius last night, four notches above normal. The minimum temperatures in other parts of the Malwa belt was also 5 to 8 degrees Celsius above normal before the rain lashed the region.
Weather experts have predicted cloudy conditions with the possibility of more rain in the region in the next 24 hours in some parts of the region.
Clouds were still hovering in the sky in most parts of the Malwa belt.
The wet weather has brought cheer to the farmers as farm experts say it is highly beneficial for crops like wheat, sugarcane, fodder, mustard and peas. Rain has eliminated ground frost from the crops, especially potatoes and peas.
Dr Sukhdev Singh Brar, Chief Agriculture Officer, and Jaswinder Singh Brar, Agriculture Officer of Moga, said that during this part of the rabi season, the farmers irrigate their fields. “Rain has increased soil moisture, which is required for normal development of the plant at this stage. As rain is the best source of natural nitrogen, it increases the nutrient uptake efficiency of the plants,” they said.
Chandigarh: According to the Chandigarh meteorological centre, almost half of the districts in the state, especially in the north-eastern part, got rain.
The districts included Mohali, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, Ropar, Ludhiana, Patiala, Kapurthala, Amritsar etc.
In the district-wise breakup, Amritsar got 10.5 mm, Jalandhar 12 mm, Kapurthala 13 mm, Ropar 6 mm, Ludhiana 6 mm, Hoshiarpur 8 mm and Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar got 22 mm rain.
In its forecast, the met centre said that that the weather would be clear in the coming days.
The rain has brought relief to the farmers in the state. According to agricultural experts, rain was needed at this point of time for the wheat crop.
“In the absence of rain, the yield would have been low. We were worried due to the absence of rain and high temperature,” said Dr Gurdial Singh, director agriculture, Punjab. He said that it was too hot for the wheat crop. A dip in temperature was required for a good harvest that this rain would bring about.
