Main page 

News

Issues

Weather

Pak APIN

College Point

Crop Update

Water Status

Market Price

Model Farming

New Agri-Tech 

Bio Technology

Help Desk

Behtak the forum

Feed back

Email

Agri Overview

Directory

Fate of wheat crop hangs in the balance


LAHORE: The fate of the wheat crop hangs in the balance as the weather and availability of water at crucial stages of its growth would play a vital role in determining its final production. The Punjab Agriculture Department officials are satisfied about the current condition of the wheat crop in the irrigated areas but have kept their fingers crossed about the ultimate production.

Much would depend how prudently the available canal water is regulated to ensure irrigation during February, at the time of booting (when the fruit germination just starts and ovaries need water). The most crucial irrigation is required at the time of crowning (when the grain formation starts). They claim that a plan has been chalked out to release water in the canals at these stages only.

According to the quota allotted to the Punjab canal, water would be available for wheat crop for three irrigations only. They said canal water was supplied to all farmers at the time of sowing. They said timely rain in the second week of December provided the required supplement the crop needs 20-25 days after sowing.

They said the same rains kept the crop in rainfed regions also in good shape Though Lahore and adjoining areas did not receive any rain after December but the rainfed wheat area, in upper Punjab did receive some rains in January that will boost the crops in those areas. President Zarai Insaf Pakistan, Hamid Malhi said, weather is also very crucial in the development of wheat crop. He said the crop needs moderate cold weather during first two months of its growth. He said lower temperatures ensure better tilling and healthier plant.

He said the crop's premature flowering occurs if the temperatures rise that drastically reduces the per acre yield of the crop. He said a persistent cold weather till the first week of March would ensure healthier crop and better yield.

He said farmers have become accustomed to water shortage. He said they have successfully experimented water conservation techniques during past two years. Now, he added they irrigate their fields three times instead of five times. However, he continued, the availability of water at crucial stages must be ensured by the Punjab irrigation department.

Farmers, he added, are increasingly supplementing water by running their tube wells. However, this is done at the last moment when the farmers lose all hope of getting canal water. He said pumping water through tubewells has become very expenssive because of high diesal and electricity rates. Punjab produces 72-75 per cent of the total wheat produced in the country. Sindh and NWFP produce the rest.

Curtsy The News  January  15, 2002