PESHAWAR: The current spell of rains and snowfall that is expected to continue today in most of the areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would leave positive impacts on the Rabi crops especially in the rain-fed areas of the province. Syed Mushtaq Shah, regional director of the Met Office, told The News that more rains were expected in most of the areas of the province and snow in the hilly areas of Malakand and Hazara divisions. He said that the rains were certainly good for agriculture. “The farmers in the plain areas of the province especially those parts which are fed by rain-water should prepare their lands for the Rabi crops particularly wheat after the end of the spell,” he said. He added that sufficient moisture would be available in the soil for cultivation and germination of seed. A spokesperson for the Met Office said that the province has received an overall 20 millimeter rain so far. Giving further details of the downpour, he said that the provincial capital received 17 millimeter rain, Bannu, 4, Saidu Sharif 24, Bala Kot 52, Chitral 16, Cherat 10, Timergara 31, Drosh 14, Kalam 26, Pattan 36, Kohat 52, Dir 31 and Malam Jabba 39 millimeter. He said that an overall 4 millimeter snow has been recorded so far in the hilly areas of the province. Area specific details of snow couldn’t be collected, he added. The spokesman added that there was forecast of more rains in the plain areas of the province for the next 24 hours, while rains and snow were expected in the upper parts of the province particularly Malakand and Hazara Division during the whole week. The shower is expected to leave positive impact on the Rabi crop especially wheat, gram and vegetables. Talking to The News, prominent agronomist, plant and soil scientist Dr Shad Khan Khalil of Agricultural University Peshawar, said that the rain was very timely and effective for wheat crop and it would certainly increase its production. He said that wheat was the main Rabi crop and in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 60 percent of wheat is cultivated on rain-fed land. He said that the sowing time for wheat starts from October 25 and it continues till November 20. Dr Shad Khan said that during the current spell most of the areas of the province have received sufficient water and moisture, which is good for cultivation and germination of wheat. He said that the rains would enable farmers to sow wheat on time as the timely sowing increased its production. Dr Shad Khan further said that the rain was also useful for gram, which is produced in the southern district of the province. “Gram is produced in the rain-fed areas of Kohat, Karak, Lakki Marwat and Dera Ismail Khan. The rain is very useful for its cultivation,” he remarked. Agriculturist Dr Riaz Khattak said that the current rain was very timely and it would give sufficient benefits to crops. “These rains do no harm to the crops,” he said, adding that it was a season for sowing vegetables and wheat and the rain was very useful for their cultivation. Our correspondent adds from Chitral: The mountains in Chitral were blanketed with snowfall, forcing the dwellers into woolies. Some people were seen worried about the early herald of the winter. “The winter seems be too harsh this year as I have not seen snowfall in October over the years,” said Salahuddin, a local. Mountains in Shangla, Swat, Buner and Hazara division also received snowfall, making the weather chilly.
