No respite from rain, hailstorm in Saurashtra

RAJKOT: Weather remained unsettled in Saurasthra for the second day with rain coupled with strong winds and hailstones leaving farmers, especially mango growers, extremely worried about their crops.
According to Junagadh district flood control room officials, Bhesan and surrounding villages witnessed a hailstorm while Maliya-Hatina recorded 25mm rainfall on Sunday.Rainfall was also reported for the second day in Talala region of Junagadh, which produces maximum kesar mango in Gujarat.
By late evening, hailstones started falling in Kalavad, Jamjodhpur and Lamba villages of Jamnagar district, along with light drizzles. Skies remained overcast in many parts of Saurashtra with gusty winds blowing throughout the day. Light showers also took people by surprise in Rajkot.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted light rains at isolated places in Saurashtra and Diu. The temperature has also fallen in the region. While other crops like bajra and wheat are likely to be hit badly, the biggest worry is that of mango farmers, who had expected a bumper crop this year. Horticulture expert from Junagadh Agricultural University (JAU), R S Chovatiya, said that hailstorm and heavy rains would badly affect mango crop.
"This year, there was abundant flowering. The fruiting process had also started but the hailstorm and rains have wrecked havoc as large number of trees where fruiting began have been affected. Due to consistent low temperatures, the fruit setting had already been hit,'' S Chovatiya told TOI.
Farmers say that they have suffered about 20% loss in mango production due to weather change and rains.
"The hailstorms came as a disaster for us on Saturday and Sunday. Due to good flowering, we were expecting bumper production of kesar mango. But due to rains and hailstorms, the fruits dropped in large number," said mango orchard owner in Talala, Mensi Sariya.
Farmers growing wheat have also been hit hard as the harvested crop lying in the fields was damaged due to rain.