RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: Keeping in view the Disaster Management Authority Punjab’s warning that more rains/thunder-showers with gusty winds is expected at scattered places in Upper Punjab and Isolated places in Sahiwal and Multan from July 12 to July 15, the Punjab Agriculture Department (PAD) has asked the farmers to be vigilant and pay special attention to their standing crops.

In an advisory issued here on Thursday, a spokesman of the department asked the growers to attentively keep watch on Radio TV weather forecast broadcast/ telecast and make their irrigation plans for standing crop accordingly.

Spokesman disclosed that on one side of the field of Cotton & Vegetable crops Rice, Sugarcane and Fodder crop should be grown so that excess water from Cotton and Vegetable crop could be drained to water loving crops. Farmers should improve drainage system at farm level. Excessive water may be drained with the help of drainage pump.

Small Water reservoirs should be constructed at farm level. Removal of weeds after rain is very important in standing crop as weeds utilize moisture and food which are to be used by crop and also serve as debris for harmful insects & pests.

Spokesman advised that farmers should resort with field staff of Extension department for use of feticide spray to remove weeds. Farmers are advised to drain water from Cotton and vegetables as these crops are very sensitive to water.

Spokesman disclosed that Provincial Disaster Management Authority Punjab has issued warning of more rain thunder-showers with gusty winds in Rawalpindi, Lahore, Sargodha, Faisalabad and Gujranwala Divisions, while at isolated places of Sahiwal and Multan from May 12. Keeping in view weather alert, it is advisable to take necessary pre-cautionary measures to avoid any loss. During monsoon harmful insect particularly sucking insects remained more active. So, farmers are advised to keep in contact with Extension or Pest Warning field staff to mitigate their attack threshold level, the spokesman concluded.