Farmers asked to prepare land for Rabi crops

KARACHI: The Met Office has advised the farmers to prepare land particularly the rain-dependent areas to grow next Rabi crops.

The advisory came as the Met Office issued its 10 days 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 warns the late sowing of Rabi crop may scale down the yield and inflict losses on the farmers. It urges the farmers to take advantage of the dampness left by the recent monsoon rains in preparing their land.

It says 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 northeast Balochistan (Quetta and Zhob divisions.

It says isolated thunderstorm and rain of light to moderate intensity are also likely to hit parts of upper Khyber Pukhtunkhwa, upper Punjab, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir on October 13.

Normal wind pattern is likely to prevail over the most parts of the country. Gusty winds are expected in upper Punjab (rice growing areas) and upper Khyber Pukhtunkhwa on Oct 13 and Oct 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, likely in Balochistan,” it says.

About the past weather conditions, it says light to moderate rain reported in the second half of the last 10 days in Khyber Pukhtunkhwa, Punjab, Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir and Balochistan.