The Meteorological Department has advised farmers to sow fully-matured crops for timely cultivation of the upcoming cotton crop. In its 10-day advisory for farmers for the period between April 11 and April 21, it said that the wheat crop was growing in wax to full maturity in the plains and harvesting/threshing was in progress in the lower half of the country, especially southern Punjab and most of the plains of Sindh.
Farmers are advised to start harvesting keeping the above forecast in mind. It said light to moderate rain had been reported from the plains of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan during the first 10 days of this month. However, meager rainfall was reported for a few days from the plains of Sindh and Balochistan during the same period.
Rain Forecast:
Punjab: Light to moderate rains with thunderstorms were expected in the first half and mostly dry weather in all plains of the province. Dust storms iare expected in southern plains during the second half of the 10 days.
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa: Light to moderate rains with thunderstorms are expected in first half, while mostly dry weather was expected during the second half of the 10-day period.
Sindh: Mainly dry weather was expected during the same period.
Balochistan: Light to moderate rains with thunderstorms were expected in western parts during the first half. Mostly dry weather was expected during the second half of the 10-day period.
Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir: Light rains with thunderstorms were expected in Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir during the first half. Mostly dry weather is likely to prevail during the second half of the same period.
Wind Forecast: Windy conditions are likely to prevail in most of the plains in the country during the first half. Gusty winds along with dust storms are likely mostly in the lower half of the country during the same period, especially in Sindh.
Director General Punjab Agriculture Extension Services Dr Anjum Ali told Business Recorder that recent light rains over a vast area of the province had no negative impact on Rabi crops, including wheat, oil seeds, grams and sunflower. However, he said, moderate weather in the first fortnight of April had delayed the full harvest season by about 10 days, adding that it might now start in the third week of the month. He said the condition of crops was good and the agriculture sector would achieve its major targets set for the Rabi crops.