A sharp dip in night temperatures accompanied by severe ground frost has dealt a heavy blow to vegetable growers in the Yamunanagar agricultural belt. Farmers in villages across the district reported extensive damage to potato and tomato crops this morning.
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The Frost Effect: As temperatures hovered near the freezing point overnight, a layer of white frost covered the fields. For sensitive crops like tomatoes and potatoes, which are mostly water-based, the frost causes the water in the plant cells to freeze and expand, effectively “bursting” the tissue and turning the leaves black.
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Extent of Damage: Early reports suggest that in some pockets of the district, nearly 30% to 50% of the standing crop has been affected. Farmers who had not yet harvested their potatoes or whose tomato plants were in the early fruiting stage are the worst hit.
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Farmer’s Voice: “I woke up to see my entire tomato field looking like it had been scorched. The frost was so thick today that even the plastic coverings couldn’t save the delicate saplings,” shared a distraught farmer from the Mustafabad block.
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Expert Advice: Agriculture experts from the local Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) have rushed to the affected areas. They are advising farmers to:
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Light Irrigation: Providing light irrigation to the fields in the evening can help raise the soil temperature slightly and protect against frost.
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Smoking (Smudging): Creating small, controlled fires around the boundaries of the field to produce smoke can create a protective blanket over the crops.
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Nutrition: Applying specialized fertilizers to help the plants recover from the “cold shock.”
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Demand for Girdawari: Farmer unions have already approached the district administration, demanding a special ‘Girdawari’ (crop loss assessment) and immediate compensation for the losses incurred during this peak winter season.
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Weather Outlook: With the IMD predicting similar cold wave conditions for the next 48 hours, the district’s agriculture department has issued a high alert for all vegetable and mustard growers in the region.
