LAHORE, Feb 23: While weather is always important for the growth of crops, it has become an extremely critical factor for the wheat crop now in the fields because of continued cold, cloudy and wet spell that has swept the country for the last three weeks that could seriously impair the crops yield.

Farmers must have breathed a sigh of relief when bright sunshine descended on the fields on Monday but clouds, returning to shroud the atmosphere the very next day and kept the mercury low, dampened their expectations. Higher temperature is essential for strengthening the crop and helping fields to produce their potential.

The farmer's fears are not unfounded in view of reports of yellowing wheat plant leafs from some parts of Punjab, particularly in low-lying fields. More rains could inundate more fields to the detriment of the crop.

If the mercury remains below 25 C in the next week, there is apprehension of rust and aphid visiting and damaging wheat plants and reducing the yield from them. That would make the attainment of the 20.2 million ton target for wheat fixed by the Federal Committee on Agriculture difficult, if not unattainable.

Warmer weather conditions are a prerequisite for enhanced tailoring of the crop. Meteorological experts expect the temperature to rise but gradually and say that it is likely to range between 23 C to 20 C maximum and minimum respectively by end first week of March. That would be late for the crop's proper development and yield.

For one thing, impact of the cold wave of the past about three weeks would not instantly evaporate and for another, clouds and mild drizzle is forecast for the next about four to five days. That, to say the least, would not be good for the plants now at the crucial stage.

The wheat crop had initially faced negative conditions because of shortage of water and delayed harvesting of cotton in many of the fields that interchange wheat and cotton crops and due to cane crushing that went weeks beyond November 25, the date considered the cut-off line for timely sowing of wheat.

There were conflicting claims by government and farming sector organizations following these circumstances about coverage area for the crop. Government officials claimed completion of sowing target area while the Farmers Association of Pakistan challenged the veracity of official statistics.

The disadvantage arising from water scarcity was offset by rains that provided badly needed first watering on time while the second spell of rain served as second watering for Punjab and NWFP; the rains were second and third irrigation for wheat in Sindh.

But more rains could spoil the crop in irrigated areas of Punjab and NWFP and undermine the farmer's efforts at the time of harvesting in Sindh. As the rains came in the form of drizzle and acted as sprinkler watering for the crop, they were the ideal irrigation for the crop, more so as they weren't accompanied by winds that could have been instrumental in the withering of flowers.

The sympathetic intervention of nature created hopes that the production target would not only be met but also exceeded. But a persistent cold spell is certain to upset the grower's hopes and government official's calculations. However, all they can do is to keep their fingers crossed and pray that the nature's reprieve remains short of punishment.