Unseasonal Rain: Crops damaged across India; IMD advises farmers on harvest schedules

The likely strong wind/hail may damage standing crops, injure people and cattle at open places, and partial damage to vulnerable structures due to strong winds, IMD said.

Unseasonal rains and hail are expected across the country over the next few days due to western disturbances. Notably, in the past few days too, light or moderate rainfall and thundershowers were observed over most parts of India.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has advised farmers in Punjab, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh to postpone harvesting of wheat and other rabi crops. Farmers have also been asked to withhold irrigation to wheat crop.

The likely strong wind or hail may damage standing crops, injure people and cattle at open places, and partial damage to vulnerable structures due to strong winds, IMD said.

In Maharashtra, six districts of Marathwada reported crop losses on more than 62,000 hectares of land due to unseasonal rainfall, an official said on March 19.

In Gujarat, a fresh spell of unseasonal rains lashed in several parts of the state on the weekend. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on March 19 held a review meeting to assess the situation.

IMD advisory to farmers in different states

Isolated thunderstorm, lightening, squall and hailstorm are expected over west Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and East Rajasthan on March 20; and over Uttarakhand on March 21, the IMD daily forecast said.

While the IMD has advised to postpone the harvesting of wheat and other rabi crops, they've also said that in case of mature crops like mustard, it can be harvested sooner.

In Rajasthan, farmers have been advised to carry out harvesting of matured mustard and chickpea at the earliest store them in safe place.

In Madhya Pradesh, too farmers have been asked to harvest mustard, chickpea immediately and store it in a safe place.

In Maharashtra, farmers have been asked to harvest wheat, pulses and grapes immediately.

Also Read | Standing crops in 8 districts destroyed by unseasonal rains says Devendra Fadnavis

In Assam, farmers have been asked to postpone harvesting of fruits and vegetables and move the already harvested produce to safer places immediately.

Farmers have been told to postpone maize sowing in Sikkim and jute sowing in Sub-Himalayan West Bengal.

Farmers should drain out excess water from crop fields, provide mechanical support to horticultural crops and staking to vegetables, use hail nets to protect apple, pear, plum and peach orchards in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand and orchards in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, East Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.

Yet to receive states' report, says Centre

The central government on March 20 said there has been "some damage" to standing wheat crop in key growing states, but that it is "yet to receive a ground report from the states".

"There has been some damage. We have not received an assessment report on the extent of damage from the state governments," Minister of State for Agriculture Kailash Choudhary told PTI. The statement added that there is "no concern about mustard and chickpea (chana) crops as most of it has been harvested" and that in the case of horticultural crops, "localised hailstorms might have affected some crops like banana and potato".

Choudhary said states are using State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF) funds and the Centre will provide compensation under the National Disaster Relief Fund (NDRF) after reports come in.

(With PTI inputs)