Farmers asked to prepare for Rabi crops

The met office has advised the farmers to prepare land particularly rain-dependent areas to grow the next Rabi crops. The advisory came as the met office issued its 10-day advisory for farmers keeping in view the possible change in the weather conditions of the country.
It asks the farmers to be careful enough to prepare their lands on time particularly those which largely are largely dependent on rains to sow the next Rabi crops. The advisory warned that late sowing of Rabi crop might scale down the yield and inflict losses on the farmers. It urged the farmers to take advantage of the dampness left by recent monsoon rains in preparing their land.
It said dry weather is likely to remain in most parts of the country during the next 10 days. But, it also warns of thunderstorm and rainfall is likely to hit places in north-east Balochistan (Quetta and Zhob divisions) on Tuesday October 11. It furthered that isolated thunderstorm and rain of light to moderate intensity are also likely to hit parts of upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, upper Punjab, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir on October 13 and October 14, 2011.
Normal wind pattern is likely to prevail over most parts of the country. Gusty winds are expected in upper Punjab (rice growing areas) and upper Khyber Pukhtunkhwa on October 13 and October 14 2011, the advisory suggests caution. "Temperatures are expected to be in nearly normal range in most parts of Punjab, Khyber Pukhtunkhwa, Sindh and Kashmir. While 2-3 degree centigrade below normal temperatures is likely in Balochistan," it said. About the past weather conditions, it said light to moderate rain was reported in the second half of the last 10 days in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir and Balochistan.