An expected moderate rain spell in the first week of February will bring positive impact on crops, especially in the Barani areas of the country. Talking to APP, Director General of Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) Arif Mehmood said that three rain spells are expected in next month.
Scattered rains are likely from February 4-5 in Kalat, Quetta and Rawalpindi divisions, which will help overcome affects of dry weather on crops and vegetables, he said.
Arif said that wheat, peanut and other crops remained under moisture stress due to continued dry spell this season and their yield had been affected in Fateh Jang, Chakwal and other rain-fed areas. The reason behind less rains in the country is La-Nina phenomenon in the Pacific Ocean, which has affected the agriculture sector badly, he said. The Met office has already forecast that the country would receive 20 percent less rains during the ongoing winter season.
The DG said," the La-Nina phenomenon develops when the sea surface temperature across the equatorial Eastern Central Pacific Ocean goes lower than normal".
According to met analysis the weather will remain dry across the country during next three to four days. Isolated rain and snowfall over hills was recorded in different parts of the country, including Northern Areas, during last 48 hrs.