Though the state agriculture department is yet to assess the extent of damage caused due to hailstorm and rain, officials say at least 35% to 40% of the crop in Roopewal and its adjoining villages have been damaged.
State officer for cucurbit crops Sukhdeep Singh Hundal agreed that melon farmers have suffered losses due to unfavourable weather conditions. Roopewal is Asia’s largest muskmelon market; from there the crop is transported to other parts of the country. Horticulture department data reveals that more than 53,500 tons of muskmelon and 22,000 tons of watermelon are produced in Jalandhar and Kapurthala belt every season.
Weather conditions are always a risk factor. During sowing, temperatures should be between 18 and 20°C. The sweetness increases as temperature rises to between 35 and 40°C. “Cloudy weather and humidity can make the crop susceptible to diseases such as blight, wilt and powdery mildew, which dries the vines of the plant and damages the fruit, as happened recently,” said Hundal.
Source - http://www.freshplaza.com
