The Met Office has asked the growers of upper half of the country to complete cultivation of Kharif crop on time to utilise the existing soil moisture fully. It also said that the farmers of rain-fed areas should speed up sowing of maize crop to get maximum field dampness. It forecast heavy rains in coming days and advised the farmers to take measures to protect their crops, livestock and other property from downpours effect.
It warned that the Pest and viral attacks may hit the standing crops, besides growing weeds especially expected with more rains in sugarcane fields in the upcountry. “Farmers are therefore advised to take in time precautionary measures in this regard,” it said.
Farmers of rain-fed areas obtaining water through tube-wells and irrigated areas in upper parts should schedule irrigation according to the expected rainy weather in the next 10 days. “Rainfall/ gusty winds after irrigation cause water logging of standing crops like maize, sugarcane and cotton,” it said.
Farmer of cotton belt should remain aware about the adverse effects of stagnant water in the fields. “Mechanism for drainage of stagnant water from fields should be evolved on priority basis and necessary requirement in this regard should be taken,” the office asked. Mainly hot and dry weather is expected in most parts of Punjab with isolated light to moderate falls in D.G khan, Bahwalpur, Faisalabad, Lahore and Rawalpindi divisions from September 16 to September 17. Hot and dry weather is expected in most parts of the Sindh till September 20.