The Met Office has advised the farmers to stop irrigation of their wheat crop, as per need, which has entered a crucial stage of maturity, ahead of expected rainy spell. "Farmers of these areas are advised to irrigate the crops as per requirement keeping expected rains in mind, the office said in its advisory to farmers. It said the wheat crop is at very crucial development stages of milk maturity/ wax maturity in Sindh and southern Punjab
"Wheat crop is at heading/flowering/milk maturity stages in most of the agricultural plains of the country. Farmers are advised to stop irrigation of the crops keeping in view the expected rain in agricultural plains of the country," it said. It warned the farmers that weeds may shoot in excess after fresh rain. "Farmers should control weeds growth soon after rains," it said.
The office said farmers should control further weeds growth at the present growing stages to stop any negative impact on the crops. "Weeds removing practices should be started soon after expected rains in the mentioned areas," it added. Farmers are advised to ensure field sanitation and spray prophylactic fungicidal sprays to prevent spread of diseases on vegetables after rains.
Farmers are advised to take up poultry rearing houses to maintain optimum room temperature and take care against the rapid changes in air temperature and relative humidity along the expected rainy spell in a week. In Punjab, it forecast rainfall with light snowfall, over the hills, and scattered rain over isolated central parts of the province till March 10. Dry weather is expected in most parts of Sindh, it said.