Advisory issued to protect crops from monsoon

The Punjab agriculture department has issued a comprehensive advisory urging farmers to take preventive measures to safeguard their crops during the ongoing monsoon season

LAHORE, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 3rd Jul, 2026) The Punjab agriculture department has issued a comprehensive advisory urging farmers to take preventive measures to safeguard their crops during the ongoing monsoon season.

A spokesman for the department said here on Friday that growers must make special arrangements to protect their fields from the adverse effects of heavy rainfall. He said that sugarcane, rice, and fodder crops can tolerate excess water, making them suitable for receiving surplus rainwater without significant damage.

In contrast, cotton and vegetable crops are highly vulnerable to waterlogging and require immediate drainage of standing rainwater to prevent losses.

According to the advisory, crops cultivated on raised beds or ridges are comparatively better protected from the harmful effects of heavy rains, he added.

Where sugarcane or rice fields are located adjacent to cotton or vegetable fields, farmers are encouraged to divert excess rainwater into those crops. Alternatively, if a vacant field is available nearby, a drainage trench should be dug to channel surplus water away from vulnerable crops.

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The department emphasized that cotton is particularly sensitive to standing water. If rainwater remains in cotton fields for more than 48 hours, plants may begin to die.

Farmers were also advised that, if required, plant growth regulators may be applied to cotton crops after rainfall, but only in consultation with local agricultural experts or extension staff of the Agriculture department.

The advisory further urged farmers to closely monitor weather forecasts broadcast on radio and television to better plan irrigation schedules in line with expected rainfall.

The department also warned that weed growth accelerates during the monsoon season. Weeds not only compete with crops for nutrients but also provide shelter for harmful insect pests. Moreover, humid and muggy weather creates favorable conditions for the rapid multiplication of sap-sucking insects, increasing the risk of infestations. Farmers were therefore advised to seek guidance from local officials of the Agriculture department's Extension and Pest Warning services for timely pest monitoring and control measures.