Punjab: The rain has brought life back to the fields, but strong winds and hailstorms are a cause of concern for potato and tomato farmers.

Punjab: The continuous rainfall has brought much-needed relief to farmers across the region, improving soil moisture and crop conditions. However, some concerns have also emerged, particularly among potato and tomato farmers, as the rain was accompanied by strong winds, raising fears of crop damage. Agricultural experts said it was too early to assess any damage and added that the situation was being closely monitored. Deputy Director of Horticulture, Sandeep Singh Grewal, said that while the rain is largely beneficial for fruit crops, it could pose challenges for potato farmers. He said, “Due to prior weather warnings, a significant portion of the potato crop had already been harvested. The current rainfall is not expected to damage the crop, but it will delay the harvesting process.”
Grewal further added that tomato crops are currently in the planting stage and are unlikely to be affected. He said, “If the tomatoes are grown using the tunnel method or on raised beds, the rain will not cause any damage.” While wheat farmers have largely welcomed the rain, experts have cautioned that excessive rainfall could harm the crop. Patiala Chief Agriculture Officer Jaswinder Singh said the rain was long-awaited, as December and January had been mostly dry. He said, “At this stage, the current rainfall is beneficial for the crops. The sudden increase in daytime temperatures was not good for wheat, and the drop in temperature along with the rain will provide the necessary moisture and ideal conditions for crop growth.” However, another agricultural expert, speaking on condition of anonymity, expressed concerns about the rain and hailstorms. He said that due to staggered sowing times, tomato crops could be susceptible to late blight. The expert said, “In areas where hailstorms occurred, vegetable crops may suffer damage. For wheat as well, monitoring of the crop is essential as incidents of yellow rust increase after rainfall.”