Chandigarh:
It's time to sow paddy. Farmers in Punjab are readying their fields but hardly any rainfall is not a healthy sign. So far this year monsoon has been weak in north India; small farmers who are dependent upon monsoon for kharif crop are keeping his fingers crossed. For some already under debt, this could prove to be ruinous.
For instance, as the two brothers are sweating it out, preparing their fields for the paddy crop they are clearly worried. With no signs of the monsoon yet, they fear dependence on ground water will increase which won't be enough and will be costly to pump out.
They owe 5 lakh rupees to banks and money lenders and if Punjab doesn't get a normal monsoon, things will only get worse for many like them.
"If it doesn't rain this year, we will be choked with debt. As it is we are under heavy debt," said Harinder Singh, a farmer.
Although the monsoon reached India 10 days in advance this year, rainfall has been 45 per cent less than normal.
If the situation continues, it could affect agriculture in many states hindering plans of economic recovery. The government says it's keeping a close watch.
"There was a delay in monsoon in North and Central parts (of the country), but there's already a forecast of rain in the West. We'll take a call on June 25 -- ten states that could be critical have been asked to give reports by June 25," said Nand Kumar, Agriculture Secretary.
Farmers like Balbir Singh are hoping for a normal monsoon. Else, he may be forced to sell his two-acre land.
"Rain can make the difference.... rain can do a lot of good.... our output will be much more.... you can't do much with ground water," said Balbir Singh.
Paddy crop is being cultivated, farmers in Punjab have somehow managed to cultivate the crop with ground water but for good output there is no substitute for rainfall. Hands which plough the fields are now praying for normal monsoon as well.