Farmers across Rajasthan's Alwar and Khairthal-Tijara districts are breathing easy after heavy rain swept through the region, ending days of punishing heat and humidity and pulling bajra and cotton crops back from the brink of drying up. The fields had gone without rain for several days, leaving both crops under visible stress and farmers anxiously watching the skies.
Farmers call the rain a lifesaver for bajra and cotton
Hawa Singh Yadav, Shivcharan and Faraz Khan, farmers from the region, said the rain has been nothing short of nectar for their bajra and cotton crops. Scorching sun and rising temperatures had already begun wilting the bajra plants, but the rainfall has given the crops a fresh lease of life. Farmers now expect faster growth in the plants and are hopeful of a good harvest in the coming weeks.
Agriculture department urges farmers to sow now
Officials from the agriculture department said the rain will prove extremely beneficial for standing crops. Farmers who are yet to sow bajra and guar have been advised to go ahead and sow now, since weather conditions are fully favourable. The department has also asked farmers to keep a close watch for pests and diseases in their fields. Officials stressed that farmers should prevent waterlogging in their fields and use irrigation and fertilisers only as needed, in balanced quantities, to avoid damaging the crops.
Sowing targets and where things stand
In Khairthal-Tijara district, the agriculture department had set a sowing target of 80,000 hectares for bajra this season. Against that target, sowing has already been completed on 79,100 hectares, bringing the district close to its goal. For cotton, the department had set a target of 10,000 hectares, of which sowing has so far been completed on 3,968 hectares. A nearly two week dry spell had caused a sharp drop in soil moisture, and the lack of rain was beginning to show on the crops. Wednesday's rainfall, however, has largely eased that crisis. If the weather continues to stay favourable in the coming days, there is a strong chance that bajra, cotton and jowar yields this season will turn out better than expected.
