A severe and continuous dry spell of weather in Himachal Pradesh has triggered alarm among farmers and agriculture officials, with fears mounting over significant losses to the crucial Rabi crops, especially wheat, if immediate rainfall does not occur.
Widespread Sowing Completed Amidst Anxiety
Farmers across the state's lower hills have completed a substantial portion of their wheat sowing despite the arid conditions. Approximately 90% of wheat sowing is finished in key districts including Kangra, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Una, and parts of Solan and Mandi. However, the remaining 10% has been put on hold as cultivators anxiously await the end of the dry spell to begin planting.
Kuldeep Singh Dhiman, Deputy Director of the Agriculture Department in Palampur, Kangra, expressed concern over the already sown crop. "The wheat crop sown in October and November is already slightly impacted due to the absence of rains, which is a must for crop growth," he stated. He emphasized that Rabi crops start getting adversely affected if rains fail to arrive by December 1.
Officials Predict Significant Production Losses
Agriculture experts have quantified the potential damage, painting a worrying picture for the state's winter harvest. Dhiman indicated that wheat production could drop by 5% to 7% under the current conditions. While timely rains in the coming days could help recover some losses, he strongly advised farmers to insure their crops as a precaution.
Echoing these concerns, Shashi Pal Attri, Deputy Director of the Agriculture Department in Hamirpur, warned of even steeper losses. "If it doesn't rain in the coming days, the wheat production loss could be between 5% to 10%," Attri said. He highlighted the critical tillering stage that the crop will enter in the next few weeks in districts like Bilaspur, where sowing is 100% complete. Rainfall is absolutely essential during this growth phase for the plant to develop side shoots properly.
Broader Impact on Vegetables and Ground Reality
The crisis extends beyond wheat. Experts warn that the dry spell will also negatively impact the quality and yield of other water-intensive Rabi crops and vegetables such as peas, onions, garlic, and carrots.
The grim reality on the ground is palpable. Jagdish Ram, a farmer from Palthin village in Bilaspur district's Ghumarwin sub-division, described a drought-like situation prevailing for almost three months. "If it doesn't rain in the coming days or weeks, farmers of the entire region will suffer huge losses as rains are most needed now for the wheat and other winter crops," he lamented.
The meteorological data underscores the severity of the situation. Himachal Pradesh has been under a dry weather spell since mid-October. The state received a meager 1 mm of rainfall in November, a staggering 95% deficit compared to the normal 19.7 mm. From December 1 to 19, there has been no recorded rainfall at all, intensifying the anxiety in the farming community.
