Drought affected Rabi crops likely to survive due to rain/snow after prolonged dry spell 

The draught conditions prevailing in the state for last two months are likely to provide help to the affected Rabi crops in the mid hills and foothills of Himachal Pradesh after delayed

rain and snowfall in the high reaches.

Many farmers who were keenly awaiting the current spell of rain or snow since a while are still hopeful that despite half damage to their Rabi Crops they might get likely to earn some yield. The state has 80 per cent rain fed arable lands are hit worst by the prolonged dry spell as the Rabi crops like wheat, Baraley, Mustard, Pea, Gram and other pulses were on the verge of ‘perchard’ and spoiled in the state.

A local farmer of Chauri hemlet of Kahala Panchayat Kissan Singh said that it seemed to be

narrow escape however much damage is already being done to the wheat, Potato and other Cereals in their villages.

Since we mostly depend upon the rain water to irrigate the fields however the increase in

temperature above normal in Feb and early March started ruining the prospects of a better crops. He said that there is little hope that required rain i.e 15 to 16 mm for the Rabi crops is likely as it is going to rain for two more days.

The offseason vegetables which are being sold like hot cake have lack of demands in the season owing to the low turnout in the schools and educational institutions. The whole sale cost of green pea has come down to Rs 20 to 25 compared to seasonal price band of Rs 40 to 50 per kg.

Similarly green cabbage is never came down below Rs 15 per kg in the spring seasons is being sold at Rs 5 per kg., he lamented.

A progressive farmers of Baksu village Nand Lal Parihar said that he was selling green onion foliage at the price band of just Rs 20 to 25 instead of Rs 40 to 50 per kg, owning to lack of demands despite increasing input cost of irrigations.

Rain and snow is below normal in the state and the number of chilling hours for apple belts is unlikely to be completed moreover the delay winter in the high reaches also damage the flowering in the pome fruits.

State has already suffered major setbacks due to Covid pandemic last year and farmers irrespective of their vocations like flower culture, horticulture and agriculture are equally affected in the state. Most of them are hoping for the good wheat crops but it has partly ruined due to dry spell, Parihar said.

When there is paucity of water for households’, one needs could understand how much the, irrigation schemes have been affected by the prolonged dry spell. He hoped that people especially farmers are likely to get relief from the current rainfall and snowfall on the high reaches.

Statewide there is ongoing spell of rain and snow continuing since the last two days in many places and the sky is still overcast. The dry spell in the two months is also likely to affect growth of crops due to abnormal weather season, SP  Bhardwaj former professor of Dr Y S Parmar university Solan.

He said that for such crops and fruits to achieve dormancy and chilling hours average temperature should not cross 15 degrees and if it rises above 15 degrees it should rise gradually but there is abruptness in the progression of the temperature in the state which is likely to affect the primordial growth and later on will hit productivity.

There is a requirement of soil moisture with increasing temperature to assent the sap in the plants but dry and warm weather is likely to abnormalise the physiological demand of the crop and plants.