Punjab: Rain brings relief, hope for bumper wheat crop
By Vibhor Mohan
Light to moderate rainfall sweeping across most parts of Punjab on Friday delivered a vital moisture boost to the rabi wheat crop, prompting agricultural experts to advise farmers to suspend irrigation and monitor fields for potential pest outbreaks, as further showers are forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday.
The rainfall revived hopes for a bumper wheat harvest, as it offered a timely reprieve from a prolonged dry spell and rising temperatures that threatened crop health. Triggered by a western disturbance, the showers effectively cooled the region and replenished soil moisture, optimising the rabi (winter-sown) season for better yields.
According to the Chandigarh centre of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), there will be no major change in minimum temperature during the next 48 hours. A rise of 3-4ºC is expected during the subsequent 24 hours and a fall thereafter, the IMD added.
Pavneet Kaur Kingra, head of the agricultural meteorology department at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, told TOI that, coming as the first major showers in the rabi season, the rainfall was beneficial for farmers in the state. “It will provide required moisture to the soil and crop. On Saturday and Sunday, there is no forecast for rain, but there is a yellow alert and most areas will be enveloped by thick fog. But on Tuesday, there could be light to moderate rains along with gusty winds.”
Jaswinder Singh Brar, former joint director of the state agriculture department, said farmers who irrigated their fields in the last few days should drain out the extra water. “Farmers should also hold back spraying fertilisers until the skies clear up. It can lead to unwanted vegetative growth in the plants, further leading to lodging in the coming weeks. They also need to be cautious about pest attacks by mites in the coming days, especially in the case of the mustard crop,” said Brar.
Palwinder Singh, a farmer from Fatehgarh Sahib, noted that while the precipitation served as a timely boon for wheat, the potato crop, ready to be harvested, could face significant damage if the predicted showers intensify into heavy downpours and strong winds.
Nevertheless, Palwinder acknowledged that the rainfall provided a welcome respite, not only nourishing the fields but also effectively scrubbing the air of local pollutants.
In early Jan 2025, Punjab’s weather was marked by an extreme dry spell. While the rest of the year eventually saw record-breaking monsoon floods, the winter season was defined by a critical lack of rainfall. The IMD Chandigarh centre noted that until a mid-month wet spell around Jan 11-13, Punjab faced a 90% rainfall deficit.
In the 2024-25 rabi season, Punjab recorded a total wheat production of approximately 17.9 million tonnes, contributing about 16% of India’s total wheat output.
This article has been republished from The Times of India.