Rain worries farmers in western UP

Agra, April 12 (IANS) The spell of rain earlier this week has got farmers in western Uttar Pradesh worried with many saying that it would damage the standing wheat crop.

Wednesday evening saw stormy wind and heavy rain, setting off alarm bells in the wheat belt of western Uttar Pradesh.

"In many districts, the harvested crop is still lying in the fields waiting to be transported. The unexpected showers could damage the crop," said Ratan Singh, a farmer from Farah in the region.

Ravi Singh, a farmer from Barauli Ahir block, told IANS: "So far it's ok, but if this continues there will be trouble in store."

He said there had been a hailstorm Wednesday night, and it had rained Tuesday evening too, leading to water-logging in fields and low-lying areas of Agra and surrounding areas. "If there are showers in the next few days too, farmers would be badly affected."

Yashpal, of Etaura village, said some areas had received heavy showers with hail and this could spell doom.

"In Agra region, the problem may not be so serious as it has sandy soil and water is absorbed easily and fast. But in parts of Mathura, Etah and other districts, the soil has high clay and salt. This can prove to be a major problem," said an agricultural scientist.