05 February 2004	Thursday	13 Zilhaj 1424

LAHORE, Feb 4: Countrywide rains during the last couple of weeks have proven beneficial for the crops so far, but another wet spell could be harmful.

According to agriculture experts in the province, wheat crop badly needed water at the moment, specially in the rain-fed areas. So did fodder and other crops. But if there was another 15-day wet spell, the crop would be in trouble, they said.

"Recent rains were a gift for the standing crops, especially for the wheat. They have supplied almost one irrigation to all the standing crops," said an official of the Farmers Associates Pakistan (FAP).

Another farmer claimed that up to 1.5 inches of rain had been recorded in some areas of the province. This rainwater should be enough for the crops for around 80 days. More than the quantity of water, it was the timing that benefited the wheat crop. The rains came just in time, he said.

Owing to an unprecedented water shortage during the last few years, there were apprehensions about the crop condition. The persistent dry spell had pushed the water-table down in most of the province and created doubts about farmers' ability to supplement water by pumping. Wheat and chickpea crops in arid areas were at stake as there had been no rain in these areas in much of the winter season.

He stated that rainwater was also useful for the ongoing sowing of sunflower and the upcoming sugarcane sowing. The precipitation has provided the optimum moisture, which is conducive for sugarcane and sunflower sowing, he added.

Meanwhile, according to calculations of the Irrigation Department, the shortage in river flows is expected to come down to below eight per cent because of the recent wet spell.

According to an official of the department, shortages in the river inflow had increased from eight to 11 per cent because of less rains, but the recent spell and snow in the catchment areas would provide at least one additional watering to Rabi crops.

The official said the irrigation department would take the final decision about supplying water to non-perennial canals after the Eid holidays. But in all probability, farmers would get water for at least one watering of wheat and other crops, he hoped.

He further hoped that water shortage during the rest of the Rabi season would come down to five per cent if the wet cycle continued till mid-February. It could go down still further if there was an early rise in temperature causing the snow on hills to melt, he said. But, there was now certainly enough water to meet country's needs for the late Rabi and early Kharif seasons, he said.