Incessant rains damage mustard crop in Kashmir

Anantnag (J-K), May 23 : Continuous rains for nearly two months have damaged mature mustard crop in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag region.

Mustard is sown in September-October after paddy is harvested. As temperatures rise after winter, rapeseed and mustard crops blossom and are harvested towards the end of May.

Farmers who cultivated mustard crops in various areas of Anantnag are upset at the loss of good harvest and complained that the government has offered no help to them yet.

"Compared to the harvest in past six months, this year we received a good harvest but continuous rainfall from the past two months has damaged all the crops. The Government and the agriculture department has completely ignored this matter. We appeal to them for their intervention," said Muhammad Iqbal Mir, a farmer.

The farmers now fear if the rain doesn't stop on time, they may not be able to sow rice and wheat as their lands are submerged in water.

"Continuous rains during the recent days can damage Rabi (winter) crops, particularly oil (rapeseed, mustard). At many places it is being harvested but at other places, it is yet to be harvested or has been kept in heaps. There is an apprehension that this crop will get damaged because of stagnation of water," said Hakeem Manzoor Ahmad, district agriculture officer, Anantnag.

Mustard is cultivated during winter in an estimated 60,000 hectares of land in the Kashmir valley.