India - Intense rain and hailstorm may lead to heavy crop damage in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, UP

21.02.2019 692 views
Northwest India is all set to experience an another episode of heavy rain and hailstorm activities. In fact, some activities have already been seen over many parts of Northwest India including Punjab, Haryana, Delhi NCR. While it may bring cheers for the common man but these rains might bring a big jolt for the farmers. Framers across Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and adjoining Madhya Pradesh are already grieving for the widespread crop loss during last few days. Weathermen are predicting this spell as the most prolonged and heaviest one for Northwest India in the season so far, one cannot ignore the heavy crop damage which would be caused due to hailstorm activities. The major crops such as Wheat, Barley, Rice, Jowar, Bajra and maize will be the victim of these activities. These rains can be attributed to the back to back Western Disturbances moving in a quick succession. One out of these Western Disturbances has now started moving away and soon the other Western Disturbance will arrive over Jammu and Kashmir. This system would also induce a Cyclonic Circulation over Punjab and Haryana. Thus, due to the movement of the former system, we expect rain activities to remain on the lower side today. However, with the latter system present in the close proximity, we do not foresee any long break and soon rains will pick up a pace. These activities would be peaking on February 20 and 21. The two days will see severe thunderstorm, heavy rains and intense hailstorm activities over the foothills of Punjab such as Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Gurdaspur, Chandigarh and thereby spreading onto parts of North Haryana. The rain belt will also cover parts of Rajasthan and Delhi-NCR. By February 22, this system will start moving in east directions. Due to this movement, rains will start vacating the region, but the remnants of the system might continue light rains in foothills of Punjab and Haryana for some more time. Source - https://www.skymetweather.com
25.08.2026

Avocado growers in New Zealand assess crop losses after -5°C frost

New Zealand avocado growers are assessing crop losses after temperatures fell to around -5°C on the nights of August 5 and 6. The frost affected orchards in several growing regions, including the Bay of Plenty, as the harvest was building.

25.08.2026

Insurtech Veltha builds AI claims adjuster for workers’ comp and crop insurance

Veltha, a Y Combinator S26 Insurtech startup, is building an AI claims adjuster for regulated insurance markets, starting with workers’ compensation and crop insurance.

25.08.2026

India - Kerala’s Onam festival marred by a weaker monsoon and subsequent crop loss

On August 16 this year, the first day of the ten-day harvest festival of Onam in Kerala, P. Vijayalakshmi made her way to a restaurant in Thiruvananthapuram. For the first time in her life, the 72-year-old has purchased a ready-to-eat “packet Onam sadhya” or Onam feast rather than preparing it herself.

25.08.2026

Drought takes heavy toll on Luxembourg harvests

Recent rainfall has not been enough to make up for the prolonged dry spell, with some farmers expecting significant losses this year.

25.08.2026

India - Govt takes its own sweet time: ‘Perfect storm’ of inaction & falling production makes sugar dear

Agricultural experts say the warning signs had been visible for years, with sugar production falling from 35.9 million tonnes in 2021-22 to 32 million tonnes in 2023-24.

25.08.2026

Australia - NIBA takes its agriculture forum to regional NSW as drought tightens

A one-day forum on farm risk lands in Orange on September 22, as drought conditions are forecast to continue across much of the Central West.

24.08.2026

Canada - Monette Farms restructuring update: Crop insurance dispute and U.S. land deal

Monette Farms is facing a previously unpublicized hurdle in its restructuring effort, as court documents show the Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation (SCIC) seeking a payment of $1.9 million to maintain the large farm's 2026 crop insurance coverage in Saskatchewan.

24.08.2026

India - Sukhjinder Randhawa raises concerns over 73 lakh farmers leaving Crop Insurance Scheme, questions Centre

Senior Congress leader, Rajya Sabha MP and former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa on Monday questioned the Centre’s agricultural policies, citing a reported decline in enrolment under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and a sharp fall in cotton cultivation in Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan.