- Agriculture Department appeals to farmers following incidents of fire.
- Farmers are also being made aware about unseasonal rains; if grains get wet, they should be stored only after the moisture level reduces to around 10%.
- Protect threshing grounds from flammable materials
News Street Live, Lucknow: The Agriculture Department is spreading awareness among farmers following incidents of fire in fields and threshing grounds in some districts of the state.
The department has instructed agriculture officers posted in various districts to reach out to farmers and make them aware that many are currently troubled by unseasonal rains, while incidents of fire have also been reported in some areas. In such a situation, farmers should be advised to protect their threshing grounds from cigarettes, bidis and other flammable materials.
Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi has directed officials of the Agriculture Department to remain in continuous contact with farmers these days. They have been asked to maintain regular communication so that farmers facing any difficulties can receive timely support.
The Agriculture Department has appealed to farmers that currently crops such as mustard, gram, lentil and pea are undergoing harvesting, threshing and storage. Wheat, which is cultivated over the largest area, is likely to suffer damage due to rainfall occurring in different regions over the past few days. Farmers have therefore been advised to take special precautions during harvesting and threshing.
The department has advised that if standing crops in the fields have become wet, farmers should allow them to dry for one or two days. If the crop has already been harvested and is lying in rows in the field, ensure that water does not accumulate there or tie the bundles and keep them upright.
If the harvested crop lying in the threshing ground has become wet, it should be spread out to allow air and sunlight so that it dries quickly, and only then should threshing be carried out. If the grains have become wet, they should be stored only after the moisture content reduces to about 10 percent.
Seed-producing farmers have also been advised to pay special attention to cleanliness while harvesting with combine harvesters. Considering the current moisture conditions, storage areas, bins, sacks and walls should be properly fumigated during storage so that the storage facility remains clean, dry and free from pests. With a little caution and proper management, potential losses due to rainfall can be significantly reduced.
