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Chandigarh: Untimely rainfall and hailstones accompanied by strong winds across Punjab and Haryana have triggered fresh anxiety among farmers, who fear damage to the standing wheat crop just weeks ahead of harvest.
While the showers brought temporary relief from rising temperatures for residents, cultivators across the region expressed concern that the changing weather could adversely impact crop quality and yield—adding to a series of setbacks already faced in recent seasons.
Senior farmer leader Balbir Singh Rajewal said the prevailing weather conditions—cloud cover, rainfall and gusty winds—are likely to harm the wheat crop. “Such conditions can lead to shrivelled grains and reduced foliage, ultimately affecting both yield and market value,” he said.
Echoing similar concerns, Harjinder Singh Samra, a farmer from Punjab, said waterlogging and strong winds could flatten standing crops. “If the wheat lodges (falls), it becomes difficult to harvest. The grains also lose colour and shine, which reduces prices in the mandis,” he said, adding that harvesting may get delayed.
Farmers in Haryana also voiced apprehensions. Suresh Kumar, a farmer from Karnal, said the sudden weather change has come at a critical stage. “The crop was ready for harvest, but now the winds can bend it, and the rains can damage the grains. We have already suffered losses in earlier crops,” he said.
In Hisar, farmer Ramesh Deswal said repeated climate shocks are eroding farm incomes. “Last season we faced losses in paddy and maize, and before that in potato and sugarcane. Now if wheat is affected, it will be a big blow,” he said.
Another farmer from Jind, Kuldeep Singh, said uncertainty has become a constant challenge. “Every year, some weather event hits us. We invest so much, but returns are never assured,” he said.
Agricultural experts have also cautioned about potential damage. Dr Gyanendra Singh, a senior researcher at ICAR-Indian Institute of Wheat and Barley Research (IIWBR) in Karnal, said the current spell of rain and wind could negatively impact the wheat crop. “There is a likelihood of further rainfall and strong winds in the next 24 hours, after which the weather is expected to clear,” he said.
He added that lodging of crops, excess moisture and discolouration of grains are key risks under such conditions, which may affect both yield and grain quality.
Farmers across the two agrarian states said the latest spell of adverse weather has compounded their worries, especially after facing reduced yields in previous crops such as paddy, maize, potato, peas and sugarcane. With harvesting season approaching, they are now closely watching the weather, hoping for stable conditions to prevent further losses.
