ISLAMABAD: The current monsoon rains are likely to have a positive impact on production and yield of Kharif crops including sugarcane, rice, cotton, maize and other minor crops.
A senior official of Ministry of National Food Security and Research (MNS&R) told Business Recorder that the ongoing spell would enhance production of major Kharif crops, including rice, sugarcane, and maize as these crops require more water.
He further said that the current rains would also have a positive impact on cotton crop. However, if heavy rains continue for a long time, then it would negatively impact on the crops, the official said. "Heavy rains or above normal rains lead to various diseases in the cotton crop as large quantity of water does not benefit cotton yields," he said, adding that sugarcane and rice are high delta crops and cotton is a low delta crop.
President Pakistan Kissan Ittehad (PKI) Khalid Mahmood Khokhar said that rains would have positive impact on all standing crops but he pointed out that it would negatively impact on cotton crop in Sindh province as currently the crop is in the picking stage.
The Federal Committee on Agriculture (FCA) for Kharif season 2020-21 had fixed sugarcane production target for year 2020-21 at 69.8 million tons from an area of 1.180 million hectares; and fixed paddy production target at 7.99 million tons from an area of 2.59 million hectares of land. The FCA had fixed cotton production target for year 2018-19 at 10.8 million bales from an area of 2.31 million hectares.
According to Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), rainfall forecast for August monsoon region of Punjab including some lower parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is predicted to be slightly above normal to normal rainfall. The above normal rainfall may occur in merged district of erstwhile FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas) and Sindh, it further projects.
The department says that below average precipitation is anticipated across mountainous region of Gilgit Baltistan and south western parts of Balochistan.
According to weather advisory issued for farmers by National Agromet Centre (NAC) of PMD, farmers are advised to take necessary measures to protect standing crops and fruits from damaging effects of varying weather patterns due to monsoon systems.
PMD has advised cotton growers to take necessary measures as accumulation of stagnant water in the fields due to heavy rains is fatal for standing crops like cotton. Farmers of rain-fed areas were also advised to take measures to preserve rain water for crops and livestock.
Meanwhile, met office predicted that more monsoon currents are expected to penetrate in Sindh from Friday (evening) to Sunday under the influence of this system. Scattered rain/wind-thundershower, with few/isolated heavy falls, are expected in Karachi, Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin, Shaheed Benazirabad, Tharparkar, Mirpurkhas, Umar Kot, Sanghar and Mithi from Friday (evening/night) to Sunday.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020
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