The off-season, 44.1 mm rainfall brought in by a clyclonic storm on Tuesday is expected to more or less continue for the next two days. Frequent spells along with occasional heavy spells, because of a deep depression over the Arabian Sea that transformed into a cyclonic storm by evening, predicts IMD.

Thae rain has brought maximum temperature down to 23 degrees, while the minimum stood at 21 degrees. But three weeks after the southwest monsoon withdrew from the country, these rains are expected to spell bad news for vegetables and horticulture crops. But agriculture officials say it will be good for rabi crops like wheat, jowar, gram and tur – which are all at critical stages of germination.

“Expect vegetable prices to rise again,” said Pratap Nikarm, vegetable trader. “The rain will especially be hard on leafy vegetables like spinach and coriander. If they are due for harvest, they will rot. Red onion will be hit. Cauliflower, cabbage, tomatoes – if unharvested will rot as well,” Nikam said. Coriander takes around 45 days to grow. Other vegetables take around 2-3 months.

Horticulture crops like grape will be hit. Currently, grape is going through a pruning season.

“It is a sensitive crop. The weather needs to be dry and clean,” a senior agriculture officer said. Cotton which grown widely in central Maharashtra is also staring at losses if the rains are extensive, as prediceted by the Indian Metereological Department. The quality will be reduced. At present, cotton is grown on 35,000 hectares.

... contd.