Post-rain, farmers wary of increase in input costs

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, March 14

The recent spell of rain, accompanied by hailstones and high-velocity winds, has not just caused damage to the growing wheat crop, fodder, vegetables and fruits, but also increased their input costs.

Farmers say that they would get less yield of wheat crop as nearly 30 per cent of the crop has flattened. Besides, the combine harvester owners would also charge more this year.

“We had paid Rs 800 per acre for harvesting the wheat crop last year, but this year due to the flattening of crop, the combine harvester owners will charge Rs 1,200 to 1,400 per acre,” said Harjit Singh, a farmer, who had come to the district agriculture office here today.

“Further, the wheat grain of this year won’t be of a quality that could be used as seed for the next crop. The wheat stalk to be used as fodder for animals would also be of black colour,” he added.

Dr Beant Singh, Chief Agriculture Officer, Muktsar, said, “The charges of combine harvester would definitely increase this year as manual harvesting would not be possible. I have toured the area and assessed that the damage to the growing wheat crop is about 15 per cent in Muktsar district. Mainly those farmers have sustained losses who had irrigated their fields despite the forecast of rain in the last three days.”

He further said the wheat crop of ‘2967’ variety had suffered huge losses, whereas the wheat crop of ‘1105’ and ‘3086’ varieties was still standing in the fields.

The Chief Agriculture Officer said the recent rains and the dip in temperature would have no effect on the next cotton crop.

Courtesy: The Tribune