Rainfall with hailstorm and strong winds forecast for the next two months will not only delay wheat harvesting but also badly affect quality of the commodity, said agriculture and weather experts.

"Departments concerned in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa need to continuously update farmers about daily weather conditions and urge them to take special measures to minimise losses due to unusual rains along with hailstorm and strong winds expected in April and May, the harvesting and threshing months of wheat in the two provinces", said Dr Ghulam Rasool chief meteorologist of Pakistan Meteorological Department.

He said that harvesting of wheat has started in Sindh and the uncertain weather may also affect the commodity in Sindh. The agriculture departments in all provinces need to advise farmers to harvest keeping the weather in mind, he said.

Dr Shakeel, Crop Commissioner Ministry of National Food Security and Research (MNFS&R) said that the ongoing rain spell will have a negative impact on quality of wheat, if it is prolonged. "Harvesting of wheat crops has started in Sindh while in Punjab and KP it will start from April 15 and will continue till May 30", he said.

Another official of MNFS&R said that such a situation is not a good omen for growers, as dampness not only affects the quality of the wheat, but can also cause rust and fungus in wheat which may cause serious damage to the crop.

The Federal Committee on Agriculture (FCA) had fixed wheat production target at 26.3 million tons for Rabi season 2014-15, with Punjab targeted to produce 19.6m tons, Sindh 4.4m tons, KP 1.4 million tons and Balochistan 0.9m tons.

According to Met Office, an active weather system (westerly wave) entered Pakistan on Saturday. Under the influence of this weather system, first spell of rain-thundershowers occurred in various parts of the country on Saturday/Sunday. The next spell of rain-thundershowers is predicted for the ongoing week in various parts of the country.

During these spells, rains may be accompanied by strong gusty winds and isolated heavy-fall in Malakand, Mardan Peshawar, Hazara divisions, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. Heavy downpours may generate flash flooding in the local ravines of Upper KP (Malakand, Hazara, Mardan, Peshawar divisions). Due to heavy rains, there is high probability of landslides in the vulnerable areas of Upper KP (Malakand, Hazara divisions), Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir.

During the next 24 hours, mainly dry weather is expected in most parts of the country; however, partly cloudy weather conditions are expected with chances of more rain-thunderstorm at isolated places in Malakand, Hazara, Peshawar, Mardan, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala divisions, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan during evening/night.

Source - http://www.brecorder.com/