Harvest season: Inclement weather perturbs Rajouri, Poonch farmers

Rajouri, Oct 3: Heavy rainfall coupled with thunderstorms that lashed several areas of Rajouri district on Friday morning, along with the forecast of persisting bad weather in the coming days, has triggered fresh concerns among farmers.

At present, the harvesting of maize and rice crops, along with the cutting of dry grass for fodder, is in full swing across Rajouri and Poonch districts.

This period is regarded as one of the most crucial phases in the agricultural calendar of the region, as maize remains the main cereal crop while dry grass serves as the primary source of animal fodder for the year.

However, the sudden change in weather has cast a shadow of uncertainty.

Farmers fear that any increase in rainfall intensity may lead to spoilage of crops and fodder, causing significant losses.

“We are worried that if heavy rains continue, the maize we are harvesting will rot in the fields. It is the main source of food and livelihood for us,” said Om Parkash, a farmer from Rajouri.

Echoing similar concerns, Rakesh Kumar Sasan, another farmer, said, “This is the peak time of harvesting. Even a few days of continuous rainfall can destroy both maize and dry grass, leaving us with nothing for our animals during winter.”

Farmers across the twin districts have urged the authorities to keep close watch on the weather situation and provide timely support if damage occurs.

The Regional Agriculture Research Station (RARS) Rajouri under SKUAST Jammu has also issued an advisory for farmers.

The advisory has been issued by agriculture scientists of RARS Rajouri headed by senior scientist Dr Vikas Sharma.

In this advisory, the scientists have urged paddy cultivators to postpone harvesting of matured crops until there is an improvement in weather conditions.

Farmers have further been advised to keep already harvested produce in safer places or cover it with tarpaulin sheets in the fields to protect it from rains.

Similarly, maize growers have also been asked to delay harvesting of matured crops in view of the expected rainfall.

Considering the possibility of rain and thundershowers, they have been cautioned to shift already-harvested produce to secure locations or ensure proper covering with tarpaulin sheets to avoid damage.

The advisory underlines the importance of timely precautionary measures to minimise crop loss during this critical harvesting period.