Rain and hailstorm damage cotton crop in Haryana, Punjab

Chandigarh, Sep 13 (UNI) The cotton markets of Haryana and Punjab today witnessed low arrival of cotton bales causing a hike in rates as the budding cotton crop was badly damaged by heavy rains and hailstorm that lashed parts of the region last night.

In Haryana's Hisar district, the rainfall recorded at 34.2 mm, was accompanied by strong winds and hailstorm, which destroyed the semi-developed cotton buds.

A report from Bathinda said arrival of cotton in the north Indian market today was barely 20000 bales in comparison with yesterday's 5000 bales. As a result, cotton rates were up by Rs 150 per quintal from yesterday's Rs 2150 per quintal to Rs 2300 per quintal today.

Though there is no official estimation of the extent of damage to the cotton crop due to yesterday's rains, according to experts here in some places it was as much as 30 per cent.

However, Kribhco deputy manager in Hisar, Om Prakash Chahal said that except for cotton, this rain was beneficial for other crops like paddy, bajra, moong, guar and jwar.

Mr Chahal said that these showers will also prove a boon for sowing of the Rabi crop like Chana, mustard, toria and rai.

UNI