Heavy rains could be boon for paddy

Surinder Awasthi / TNN / Aug 26, 2008, 02:30 IST

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After suffering sizable losses to crops caused by breaches in river beds as well as overflowing rivulets and drains, the Punjab govt has demanded a relief package from the central govt.

CHANDIGARH: After suffering sizable losses to crops caused by breaches in river beds as well as overflowing rivulets and drains, affecting at least eight districts during this monsoon, the Punjab government has demanded a relief package from the central government.
However, there is a brighter side too in this grim scenario. Though floods have damaged standing crops in over 70,000 acres of land, the consistently good rains spread over the first three months of the season have brightened prospects of crops in the remaining nine million acres under cultivation where primarily paddy and cotton are grown.
Also, the rains have significantly recharged the groundwater and raised the water table, which had been depleting fast over the years because of being overexploited in paddy fields. The gains on this account cannot be quantified, yet experts agree the state has overcome the problem of acute shortage of underground water, albeit temporarily.
This year the rains started in mid-June and were spread out over June, July and August. And, according to the meteorology department, till August 20 the state received 522 mm of rainfall - 47 percent more than the long period average.

It was also fairly widespread as out of the state's 16 meteorological districts 11 experienced excess while three had normal rainfall and only two had deficient rains.
This was perhaps the best rainy season during the past two decades and, unlike in the past, were not concentrated over a week or ten days.
Experts point out during heavy rains water floods out without significantly recharging the groundwater while rains that are spread out and consistent raise the water table. "This is the best thing that has happened to the state this year", said Joginder Singh, a farm expert with FAO.

Pointing out that the systematic long range rainfall has met the requirements for a good paddy crop, he said it would also greatly help in containing the growth of a mili bug pest. In the cotton belt also the rains have brightened the crop prospects.
Echoing the same sentiment, state agriculture director BS Sidhu said the rains had been good for the paddy crop this year.
Though admitting the crop was damaged in over 70,000 acres he hoped ultimately half of it would recover. Another expert noted only areas where the crop remained submerged in water for over three or four days would suffer total loss.
Though most experts hope for a bumper paddy crop this year, Sidhu appeared extra cautious, saying the crop is just 70 days old as sowing was delayed after June 10.
"It's too early to predict the crop's prospects. But, so far, the weather has been good", he quipped.

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