HARIPUR, Feb 20: The current rain spell would have a positive impact on the wheat crop in the district, agriculture experts told Dawn on Tuesday.

Talking to Dawn, they said the rain had raised the hope that the district would be able to achieve wheat production target set for the year.

Haripur City and its adjoining areas received 90mm rain during the last 48 hours, while Met office forecast more showers during the next 12 hours.

Haripur-based agronomists pointed out that like the last three years this year too the area received no rain at the time of wheat sowing which caused delay in wheat cultivation till December and January, but the ongoing wet spell would help achieve the production target this year.

However, they expressed fear that if rains continued to lash the area for the next two or more days in the same way, it could damage the immature wheat plants which had yet to pick length due to late moisturising and germination.

The ideal time of wheat sowing, they added, was the last week of November.

Sources said this year wheat was to be sown over an area of 37,500 hectares, but due to dry spell the target was revised downward to 21,375 hectares with an expected yield of 26,577 tons.

The sources said that the standing wheat crop would need rain in the second week of March as a last watering before April when its harvesting would be launched across the province.

Meanwhile, the rain has damaged various city roads and mud houses in the rural parts of the district, particularly in Afghan camps.

Due to absence of proper drainage system, rainwater has accumulated on many roads, turning them into a pool.

Traffic was also suspended briefly on the GT Road near Sera-i-Saleh and Railway Road due to rain.

However, no report of loss of life in the entire district was received.