Surge in retreating rains may hit harvest for UP, Haryana farmers

The sudden surge in the retreating southwest monsoon, causing extensive showers in most of North India over the past few days, could delay the harvest of paddy, bajra, and jowar in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, apart from causing yield losses.

- SANJEEB MUKHERJEE

It could damage vegetables sown late in the season in UP, traders and farmer groups said.

Also impacted are crops such as sugarcane, largely in parts of UP, where rain has been extensive for the past few days.

But late rain could be a boon for early Rabi crops such as mustard and wheat owing to soil moisture going up and high remunerative prices are also expected to play a positive role in farmers' decision to sow them.

Meanwhile, in several places an assessment of the rain damage will be done only after the water recedes. In Haryana, the state government has said there will be a special survey to assess the damage to paddy crops in the next few days.

"In Haryana, at this time only the PUSA 1509 rice variety is ready for harvest. If you keep paddy soaked in water at this late stage for 24-36 hours, it starts germination and discoloration, leading to yield loss," said Vijay, former president of the All India Rice Exporters Association.

He said in such a situation as against 65-67 per cent rice from a quintal of paddy, the yield went down to 60-62 per cent.