LAHORE, Feb 9: Current rain spell will benefit crops and fruits on different stages of maturity, particularly wheat crop, say experts.

The experts said wheat crop was at tillering stage and it needed second crucial watering. In areas where it was sown early, the crop is at booting stage and it needs final irrigation, they said.

They said sowing of sugarcane would start next week and the spell would supplement water requirements for the crop. It is also crucial for cane crop, as it will help it deepen roots and enable it to fight weather vagaries later, they said.

The experts said mango fruit, which is nearing maximum flowering, needed water at this stage.

On the flip side, expert Nawaz Bhatti said the spell could damage crops if continued for 10 to 12 days. At this stage, he said it was beneficial because there had been no rain for the last three months. At sowing stage in October, the country had widespread rain and the process was completed successfully.

He said it was too early to assess rain benefits. He said wheat acreage had increased by 0.7 per cent and it required additional water, adding the current spell would definitely help meet the demand.

The country has faced 15 per cent water shortage in late rabi season and the current spell will help improve the situation,” says Hamid Malhi of the Punjab Water Council.

It will certainly not fill rivers or dams as the rain has largely fallen on plains of the country, but it will supplement requirements, he said. Since it is also reported to be widespread, covering the entire country, farmers can be thankful to the Nature, he said.

The current rain assumes added significance if taken in the backdrop of wastage of water owing to the wrong policies of provinces this year, he said.