20% of wheat crop affected by weather conditions in Sargodha

Wheat crops had been sown on around 1.4 million acres in the division and almost 18,945 acres has been affected

SARGODHA: Current weather conditions and rains have affected 20% of the wheat crop in 586 villages of Sargodha division. The departments concerned are in the process of evaluating losses, said Agriculture Director Ramzan Niazi on Saturday.

He revealed that a meeting was held at the commissioner’s office to evaluate the losses. The deputy commissioners have also been directed to ensure the preservation of wheat crops after consulting experts.

The director said that wheat crops had been sown on around 1.4 million acres in the division and almost 18,945 acres had been affected by rains and hailstorms. In Bhakkar district, 25% of the crop on 47,372 acres and 50% of the crop on 480 acres had been affected. In Khushab district, wheat crops on 5,500 acres were completely destroyed. The official said that 144 villages in Sargodha, 292 in Bhakkar, 39 in Khushab and 114 in Mianwali district were affected due to the rains and high velocity winds.  

Published in The Express Tribune, April 28^th, 2019.