NOOR ILLAHI ATIF

NOORPUR THAL - Current spell of rains will have a positive impact on Rabi crops particularly major food crops of the season including wheat and different pulses sown over a vast area in Thal. Talking to The Nation, Deputy District Officer Agriculture Rana Khan Bhadhar said that the current spell of rains would make a positive impact on wheat crop as it was time to water the fields because the wheat crops had started sprouting. He said that the current spell of rains would also bring positive impact on gram crop and different pulses sown in the area. Rana Khan Bhadhar said that wheat sowing position was quite encouraging as compared to the last year's sowing because of early and timely rainfall during the start of Rabi crop season (October and November). However, the DDO Agriculture said that final figures would be received by the field formations by the second week of January 2013. He further said that wheat sowing also had got momentum and farmers were encouraged for cultivating more wheat due to government's decision of enhancing wheat support price from Rs1,050 per 40 kg to Rs 1,200 per 40 kg. He informed that sufficient availability of other inputs like fertilizers, water for irrigation and seeds as compared to the last year would also help increase cultivation area under wheat sowing. Rana Khan Bhadhar also expressed the hope that the spell of rains would prove beneficial for other minor crops including fruit and vegetables grown over a vast area in Thal. He advised the gram growers to remove weeds from the crop by hoeing. Meanwhile, Agriculture Forum Tehsil Noorpur Thal Organiser Malik Mujmil Khan Angra talking to this scribe said that farmers of Thal should first hoe the crop after 30 to 40 days of sowing and repeat it after one month. He asked the growers to water the crop of "Kabuli Chana" after 45 days of sowing and the second time when it gave flower. The recent spell of rains and continuously blowing winds caused considerable decrease in the mercury level, increasing chill in weather during the day and in the night. Freezing cold forced the people of Thal to stay indoor wrapped in woolies and blankets. The use of heaters has also considerably increased in the offices due to cold weather. In certain areas of Thal, women faced huge difficulties in cooking meals due to low gas pressure. Meanwhile, local Meteorological Department (Observatory System Noorpur Thal) has forecast partly cloudy weather with chances of rains for Thal during the next couple of days.