Cold wave damages crop in Uttar Pradesh, worries farmers

Lucknow, Jan 12 (ANI): The agricultural belt around Lucknow has been badly affected by the cold wave sweeping across the state.

Farmers said they feared heavy losses due to the cold weather that has damaged standing crops, and expressed worries about paying off their debts.

Most of the damaged crops include potatoes, tomatoes, and other winter-sown oilseed like mustard.

Vijayendra Yadav, a tomato grower, said: " It has been damaged as the flowering won't take place and the tomato bulbs would burst."

"We people are facing a lot of damages especially to the crops of arhar (pigeon pea or yellow pulses), mustard, rai (Brassica juncea seeds), chickpea, matar (peas) and potatoes, etc. Wheat is the only crop that is benefiting from cold. This weather is not good for crops," said Moolhe, another farmer.

Farmers in other parts of the country also fretted over crop damage due to winters.

About 600 million people of India's billion-plus population rely on agriculture for their livelihood. (ANI)