Hopes of the farmers in Morena have turned into despair, as continous rains have almost destroyed the rabi crops. While the farmers report a loss ranging from 50% to 80%, the official figures range from 25% to 40%. A 3 degree dip in temperatures also has been reported because of continuous rains.

Last day, the sunny morning was followed in the morning, but the weather took an unexpected turn in the afternoon because of which standing crops of wheat, mustard and gram were seen kissing the grounds.

The harvested mustard crops, which were kept in the fields, were also damaged by continous rains. While the minimum temperature last day was reported to be 17 degrees but the morning temperatures was reported to be 14 degrees by the weatherman. The maximum temperature of the district, which was reported to be 26 degrees yesterday, fell down by six degrees on Sunday morning.

The rains seemed to take a halt by 12 in the midnight for some hours on intervening night of Saturday and Sunday, after which the district witnessed downpours which continued all over the night.

Weather plays spoilsport

48000 hectare land went without sowing of mustard crop this year because of intense summers last year, but this increased the land cultivation of wheat crops by 43000 hectares. While the mustard cultivators were hit by shrinking cultivation, they had to face another blow because of untimely rains. Around 50mm of rainfall has been calculated in Morena from 8am on Saturday to 8am on Sunday. While Sabalgarh received maximum rains (50mm), Porsa received the least (15mm).

Winds, rains and hails in Sabalgarh, Pahargarh and Porsa regions have made the standing crops kiss the grown and they are seen lying down as a sheet of cloth. While 60 to 80% losses are being reported for mustard crops, wheat losses range from 50% to 70% in the district.

CEO of district Panchayat Ashish Gupta on Sunday inspected the losses due to rains and hailstorm and asked the revenue officers to calculate the losses incurred because of unfavorable weather. He said that 25% to 40% damage has been caused because of rain and hailstorm.

Source - http://www.freepressjournal.in/