<p>Widespread rains that lashed the northern region on Thursday will help kharif crops like paddy, sugarcane, maize and cotton in Punjab and Haryana.<br /><br /></p>.<p>“Rain at this stage is beneficial for kharif crops, especially paddy, as it will bring saving in water requirements for transplantation and help in timely sowing,” agriculture commissioner, Punjab, B S Sidhu said here on Thursday. Paddy requires water in the field during transplantation.<br /><br />Farm experts said paddy transplantation would pick up because of pre-monsoon showers. <br /><br />Adverse effect<br /><br />Last year, because of “deficient monsoon” sowing of kharif crops especially paddy and guar was adversely affected in Punjab and Haryana. <br /><br />Moreover, farmers had to spend more on diesel to extract water for transplanting paddy and sowing other crops.<br /><br />Rain will also reduce pressure on the underground water table as farmers will not need to extract water for transplanting paddy crops, experts pointed out. <br /><br />To prevent depletion of underground water table, it has been been mandatory by Punjab and Haryana governments under Preservation of Subsoil water Act not to sow paddy before a recommended period.<br /><br />Paddy sowing in Punjab started on June 10 and in Haryana.<br /> <br />Punjab and Haryana are eyeing to bring 27.50 lakh hectares and 11.50 lakh hectares respectively under paddy during the current kharif season.<br /><br />Good for other crops<br /><br />Punjab Agricultural University director research S S Gosal said besides paddy, rain will also be good for sugarcane and cotton crop as both crops require water at this stage.<br /><br />However, he said rain is not good for summer moong crop as showers will cause discolouration and pose problems for harvesting.<br /><br />“There can be problems for summer moong crop which is at harvesting stage at this moment and rain can discolour the crop,” he said. <br /><br />Punjab grows summer moong on 50,000 hectares of area.<br /></p>
<p>Widespread rains that lashed the northern region on Thursday will help kharif crops like paddy, sugarcane, maize and cotton in Punjab and Haryana.<br /><br /></p>.<p>“Rain at this stage is beneficial for kharif crops, especially paddy, as it will bring saving in water requirements for transplantation and help in timely sowing,” agriculture commissioner, Punjab, B S Sidhu said here on Thursday. Paddy requires water in the field during transplantation.<br /><br />Farm experts said paddy transplantation would pick up because of pre-monsoon showers. <br /><br />Adverse effect<br /><br />Last year, because of “deficient monsoon” sowing of kharif crops especially paddy and guar was adversely affected in Punjab and Haryana. <br /><br />Moreover, farmers had to spend more on diesel to extract water for transplanting paddy and sowing other crops.<br /><br />Rain will also reduce pressure on the underground water table as farmers will not need to extract water for transplanting paddy crops, experts pointed out. <br /><br />To prevent depletion of underground water table, it has been been mandatory by Punjab and Haryana governments under Preservation of Subsoil water Act not to sow paddy before a recommended period.<br /><br />Paddy sowing in Punjab started on June 10 and in Haryana.<br /> <br />Punjab and Haryana are eyeing to bring 27.50 lakh hectares and 11.50 lakh hectares respectively under paddy during the current kharif season.<br /><br />Good for other crops<br /><br />Punjab Agricultural University director research S S Gosal said besides paddy, rain will also be good for sugarcane and cotton crop as both crops require water at this stage.<br /><br />However, he said rain is not good for summer moong crop as showers will cause discolouration and pose problems for harvesting.<br /><br />“There can be problems for summer moong crop which is at harvesting stage at this moment and rain can discolour the crop,” he said. <br /><br />Punjab grows summer moong on 50,000 hectares of area.<br /></p>