SADIQABAD, Dec 16: The acute shortage of water has adversely affected the wheat sowing targets in the district as only 60 per cent cultivation has so far been completed thought the sowing season is nearing its end.

According to official sources, all the perennial and non-perennial canals in the district were scheduled to be closed from Dec 26.

The agricultural experts feared that if drought-like situation continued and no rain fell, the production would be far less than the target. They claimed that if the weather continued to be dry, Punjab would have to cut 50 per cent of its due share of irrigation water which would harm the farming community.

Drought-like situation was also damaging standing wheat and fodder crops, they added.

Meanwhile, to add to the farmers’ miseries, sugar mills have decided to postpone crushing season for one month.