With the minimum temperature hovering around 4^oC or even lower at some locations in the state, the Department of Climate Change and Agricultural Meteorology (CCAM), Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), has advised the farmers of Punjab to keep monitoring their fields regularly, and protect their field crops, orchards and vegetable crops from the harmful effects of frost, the chances of which were high in the coming days.

As per Dr PK Khingra, Head of the department (CCAM), India Meteorological Department (IMD) has also predicted cold wave conditions for coming 3-4 days in the state.

Dr AS Dhatt, Director of Research, said, “Vegetables and newly planted orchards are more vulnerable to frost occurrence. Under such circumstances, these crops need to be kept hydrated by providing light irrigation to moderate the microclimate. The crop health should also be taken care with balanced use of nutrients. Application of mulches and protection barriers on north-west direction are also effective for protection from frost, especially, tender vegetable crops and fruits.” Hence, farmers are advised to make regular visits to their fields and adopt the above mentioned measures for protecting the crops from frost, he urged.