The recent rains in the city came as a blessing for the farming community as majority of the farmers had failed to complete paddy transplantation so far.
Experts from Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), opined that the rain had reduced the pressure on tube wells and other sources of irrigation which further deplete the ground water table.
Director of Extension and Dean College of Agriculture at PAU, HS Dhaliwal, said, "The rainfall is highly beneficial for paddy growth. After all, it saves electricity and diesel costs, that they restore to for running various tube wells. The diesel required for motors to run generators in the absence of electricity also worries farmers due to its high cost."
GS Buttar, head of agronomy department from PAU said, "We must not forget that the recent rainfall has also reduced pressure on tube wells. The more the tube wells are used, more the pressure intensifies on ground water and not every farmer can bear the high costs of irrigation."
Sources from PAU's school of climate change and agricultural metrology revealed as compared to 296.4 mm of rainfall which was witnessed in June last year, this year it was only 30.2 mm leaving the farmers worried.
"According to the departmental surveys, our predictions did not match the current figures of rainfall that was witnessed in the peak summer months: May, June and July. For the initial month of sowing, as per our findings 66.4 mm rainfall was predicted whereas it only rained 30.2 mm and in July, 232.1 mm was expected but it rained only 121.2 mm," said Dhaliwal.
{{/usCountry}}"According to the departmental surveys, our predictions did not match the current figures of rainfall that was witnessed in the peak summer months: May, June and July. For the initial month of sowing, as per our findings 66.4 mm rainfall was predicted whereas it only rained 30.2 mm and in July, 232.1 mm was expected but it rained only 121.2 mm," said Dhaliwal.
{{/usCountry}}Although, a delayed monsoon but it benefitted the farmers to some extent. "I have sown 17 acres of paddy and so far for which the diesel costed me a total of Rs 70,000 to run certain motors for irrigation. However, now with enough water in my fields, I will be able to save lot of money. Besides, the labour expenses will also be saved," said Harjinder Singh, a farmer from Sheikh Daulat village.
"During the sowing days, there is more pressure on irrigation but nature did not show much sympathy toward us in those days, " said Gurmeet Singh, a farmer from Lalton village.