Late monsoon surge could hit crop yield

Chandigarh, September 18
In what is expected to be good news for farmers, the level of the Bhakra Dam in Himachal Pradesh has increased substantially in the last fortnight due to a late monsoon surge.

Although the dam is not expected to fill to capacity (1680 ft), the fact that the level has risen to 1,653 ft indicates that the fear of a drought year has all but passed.

Experts say the dam was earlier expected to reach a level of 1,635 ft by the end of the filling season (Sept 26), lower than the drought year level of 1,640 feet recorded in 2009.

However, heavy rains in the catchment areas of the Bhakra and Pong dams has raised the expectations of the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) authorities. It is felt that the late monsoon surge could prolong the rains beyond September 26. If this happens, the water level in the Bhakra dam could rise further.

Sources said the last two days of rain in Himachal had increased the inflow into the Bhakra dam substantially. The dam had received one lakh cusecs of water yesterday and was likely to receive 50,000 cusecs of water today. This late surge had resulted in the dam level rising to 1,653 feet today. This was a dramatic increase if seen against the level of 1,555 ft on July 21 this year that had prompted the BBMB to enforce water supply cuts to partner states.

The water level in the Pong Dam has risen dramatically too in the last one month. Sources said the level was 1,329 ft as on August 15 this year. Today it was recorded at 1,382 ft (the dam has a maximum filling level of 1,390 ft). Sources said if the rains continued, the dam could reach its near filling point till the end of this month.

However, farmers in Punjab are suffering from a surfeit of rain. Large portions of the state, including Mohali, Fatehgarh Sahib, Patiala, Sangrur, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Amritsar, have been lashed with moderate to heavy rainfall in the past three days.This is worrisome for areas which go in for early sowing, including parts of Patiala, Amritsar and Ferozepur.

Heavy rain has damaged crops in Patiala, Jalandhar and Amritsar districts.This is likely to affect the crop yield though, it it may be marginal.

“The rain will surely affect the ripened paddy seedlings which will develop blackened seeds”, said Bhadson farmer Jhujhar Singh. “Even the four acre vegetable crop in my fields is totally submerged in water and destroyed”, he added.

Patiala Chief Agriculture Officer BS Sohal, said the yield would be less in the early sown and early maturing varieties.

State Agriculture Adviser Dr BS Sidhu said there the heavy rainfall could result in a spurt in blight and fungus-borne diseases.