Farmers fearful about wheat yield as temperature will increase
Ruchika M Khanna
Chandigarh, February 19
Gurinder Singh, a farmer at Balial village of Sangrur, is a fearful man. Because the day temperatures proceed to soar in February, he’s fearful that the yield of his standing wheat crop will fall. “We nonetheless want cooler local weather for the wheat crop to develop and mature. Final yr, the yield was very low due to an unusually heat March. Now, in February itself, the climate is kind of heat and it is just anticipated to get hotter,” he mentioned.
We hope that top temperature is a short lived section, and due to cooler nights, there gained’t be a lot influence on yield this yr. — Gurvinder Singh, Director, Agriculture
He mentioned the temperature throughout this week was anticipated to rise additional, with the forecast saying that it’d contact a excessive of 30°C. Gurinder’s concern can also be shared by each the state and central governments, in addition to farm specialists. The federal government is retaining an in depth watch on the altering climate and planning methods to mitigate the lack of yield that may very well be brought on by this alteration in climate system. That is the second yr in a row that this phenomenon is being witnessed.
For the previous practically per week, the temperature within the state has been two to 3 levels above the traditional. Each one diploma rise in temperature causes injury to the wheat crop and impacts its yield, say farm specialists. This yr’s wheat manufacturing in Punjab, which is the third highest wheat producer within the nation, may be very important amid depleting wheat shares within the Central pool, brought on by the low wheat manufacturing and authorities procurement final yr.
This yr, the realm below wheat crop is 34.90 lakh hectares. Primarily based on the preliminary information, the federal government is anticipating that the wheat manufacturing within the state could be round 167-170 lakh metric tonnes (LMT). Of this, 120-130 LMT of wheat is anticipated to be delivered to the mandis for presidency buy.
Final yr, nevertheless, the wheat manufacturing had fallen sharply to 148 LMT due to heavy rain in January and abnormally excessive temperatures in March. The procurement from the state was a file low at 95 LMT. As international scarcity of wheat continues this yr too (due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict), a great harvest is of prime concern to the state in addition to the Central authorities.
“We’ve strategised on a set of practices to be adopted by farmers in case the temperatures rise abnormally. Farmers can be requested to go in for a sprig of potassium nitrogen to mitigate any loss in yield due to a warmth wave. Farmers have been requested to stay vigilant about yellow rust. We hope that top temperature is a short lived section and due to cooler nights, there gained’t be a lot influence on yield,” mentioned Gurvinder Singh, Director, Agriculture.
In the meantime, Punjab Agricultural College too is engaged on new irrigation practices in case the day temperatures proceed to maneuver skywards.