‘Rains to have positive impact on crops’

Agricultural experts on Monday expressed the hope that the ongoing rains would positively impact all major and minor seasonal crops, fruits and vegetables.

They were of the view that the rains would particularly be most beneficial for wheat, which is a major cash crop of the season and a mega source to fulfill the domestic requirements of staple food in the country.

The rains would have a positive impact on wheat sown in rain-fed areas across the country as well as oil seeds including mustard and canola, they said.

It would act as a supplement for seed germination, said Food Security Commissioner Dr Imtiaz Ali Gopang.

Talking to this scribe he said that the second rain of current winter season would not only be beneficial for rain-fed areas but it would also benefit irrigated areas of the country as it would increase water level in mega storage resources and bridge the deficiency of water for irrigation.

He said due to these rains, it was also expected that wheat sowing targets fixed for the current season would also be achieved as sowing would gain further momentum, particularly in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

He said Sindh and Punjab have also started supply of free seed for flood-hit districts, adding that it would revive the agriculture activity in affected areas.

Pakistan Agriculture Research Council Chairman Dr Ghulam Muhammad Ali said that these rains are most beneficial for wheat as the crop was in the germination stage.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 15^th, 2022.