Raghbir Singh Brar
Faridkot
September 4
Paddy crop in Faridkot is at heading and boot stage, the most crucial stage when it needs five to seven cm standing water in the field for ten to fifteen days continuously. Any water stress at this stage causes chaffy grains and can cut yield down.
The crop is of 125 to 150 days duration and needs standing water for almost 80 to 90 days from transplanting in late June and July till grain filling in September. But farmers say they are getting only about six hours of power.
This year the weather has not supported the crop. As per IMD, Punjab received only 230.5 mm rainfall from June 1 to August 31 against normal 362.1 mm, a 36 percent deficit. June was the worst with 46 percent deficit as the state got only 29.5 mm against normal 54.5 mm. July saw 119.3 mm against normal 161.4 mm, still 26 percent short. August was again poor with 88.7 mm against normal 146.2 mm, a 39 percent deficit.
In Faridkot there was almost no effective rain in July and August. Day temperature is hovering around 32 to 34 degrees with humidity at 67 to 79 percent.
High heat increases evapotranspiration so fields dry faster and need more irrigations. It also helps in attack of false smut and bacterial leaf blight at heading stage.Canal water is also low. Water level in Bhakra, Pong and Ranjit Sagar dams is 27 to 40 feet lower than last year and BBMB has cautioned Punjab to use water prudently.
Power situation has worsened the problem. Farmers say officially they get six hours but with cuts it comes to four to five hours. Power plays truant, at this stage the crop needs more water but supply is only six hours or less, said Chamkaur Singh, retired lecturer from village Bir Sikhan Wala.
He said farmers who have taken land on lease at above Rs 80,000 per acre will be left with nothing due to high cost of inputs.Three thefts of cables of our motor in less than two weeks, besides short power supply, left my fields dry. I had sown Basmati 1509 very late after harvesting moong, but it is not viable now, said Dipty Singh from village Dhilwan Kalan.
Thanks to canal water I will be able to harvest my crop. Due to no rainfall, there was also growth of weeds in my crop. There is acute shortage of labour, they charge Rs 400 per head for less than five hours work. And power is only about six hours or less now, said Dharam Singh from village Panjgrain Kalan.
If power supply does not improve to at least eight hours with stable voltage for next fifteen days, paddy yield in tubewell-dependent areas may drop.
