Punjab farmers fear low produce due to delayed monsoon

Abohar (Punjab), June 27 (ANI): Farmers in Punjab are worried a lot, as they fear low produce due to delayed monsoon.

With only 40 percent of farmland irrigated, most of small farmers rely on the monsoon to water their crops.

"The orchards have wilted due to delay in rains. I fear that the fruits will fall prematurely if this condition persists for next 10-15 days. The delay in monsoons will not only affect the orchard owners but all other people employed in the orchards," said Prabhu Dayal, an orchard owner.

However, weather officials say that favourable conditions for monsoons are developing which would bring respite to all.

"Rains are unlikely to happen in next one or two days. However, favourable conditions are developing for monsoons due to moisture incursion from Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal. People will also find respite from heat wave in coming days," said Udayveer Singh, incharge weather department.

The monsoon is crucial for summer-sown crops such as rice, soybean, sugarcane and cotton. With only 40 percent of farmland irrigated, most of countries small farmers rely on the monsoon to water their crops.

The Meteorological Department has said that the total rainfall from the crucial June-September monsoon would be 93 percent of the long-term average, coming in below normal for the first time in four years. (ANI)