As dry spell prolongs, J&K farmers worry for Rabi crops

By: Jahangeer Ganaie

Srinagar: The farmers in Kashmir valley, and also parts of Jammu region, are worried as the prolonged dry spell in Kashmir has been impacting the germination of Rabi crops that is likely to impact production.

Farmers from different areas of Kashmir told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that this year there was almost no rain or snow in the last six months in plains and it will definitely impact the production of Rabi crops this year.

Gulzar Ahmad, a farmer from South Kashmir’s Anantnag district said that less moisture in the soil has delayed the germination of the seed and whatever has been sown and germinated is getting brown due to less moisture and frost.

He said that this is the season when the crop needs water but the crop can’t be irritated by it as it can lead to frost that will damage the crop.

The crops that are grown in this season are saffron, oats, oilseeds, peas, garlic, onions and other things.

Farmers said that this less moisture will stunt the growth of the already standing crops like garlic and it will heavily impact the size of such crops and production will be less.

J&K is witnessing an increase in the deficit rainfall with each passing week as the prolonged dry spell has continued for the last two months at multiple places.

The deficit precipitation has gone further up to 78 per cent across Jammu and Kashmir from October 01, 2024 to December 19, 2024. Against the normal precipitation of 97.1mm, J&K has recorded a rainfall of 21 mm during the period.

The highest deficit has been recorded in Shopian with 96 per cent followed by Poonch with 95 per cent while Kulgam and Budgam have recorded a deficit rainfall of 94 per cent and 90 per cent respectively.

Akhtar Hussain Malik, a noted Botanist at Kashmir University told KNO that the water table is low due to less precipitation this year that has led to less moisture in the soil in which Rabi crops have been sown.

The less moisture in the soil will stunt the growth of crops and the number of leaves in the plant will be less, size will be short and yield will be less.

He said that with precipitation in Autumn, the water table used to remain rich, thereby keeping the soil full of moisture, which was helping in proper growth of crops.

“Water in the soil is warm as compared to the water if we irrigate it but currently there is neither water in the upper layer and we can’t irrigate currently, so it will definitely impact the production,” he said.

He said that this dry spell is very harmful as it will stunt the growth of these plants with less flower production and photosynthesis and will weaken roots as well. —(KNO)