Rain delays cotton picking in Multan

CCRI weather observatory forecasts more rain on November 15

MULTAN: Multan city and its suburbs received 9.9mm rain over the last 24 hours, turning the weather cool and compelling farmers to delay cotton picking and wheat sowing on Thursday.

Central Cotton Research Institute (CCRI) Spokesperson Sajid Mahmood said that the CCRI weather observatory forecasted more rain on November 15. “The institute would suggest farmers to halt cotton picking for a week or at least till the time the standing cotton crop received sufficient sunlight so that cotton flower is dry enough to facilitate picking.”

The spokesperson added that 20 per cent cotton was still on the fields awaiting harvest. “Rain-hit cotton leaves excess moisture and changes the colour of cotton to pale yellow after dryness, compromising its quality.”

Agriculture department spokesperson Naveed Asmat Kahlon said that rain was beneficial for crops, including fodder, vegetables, and sugarcane. “However, rain delayed cotton picking and wheat sowing, by a day or two, and wheat is usually sown on fields vacated by cotton.”

Published in The Express Tribune, November 15^th, 2019.