Farms to see diesel, power use spike for kharif irrigation

may also face elevated daytime electricity demand as farmers then switch on tube wells to irrigate paddy, pulses, oilseed and cotton crops, they said.

- 

This year, the situation has been aggravated with the West Asia war disrupting energy imports and supplies. "For most part of the year, Kisan Seva Kendras sell 40-50 kilolitre (kl) of diesel a month, but during kharif and rabi sowing, this shoots up to 200 kl a month," said Monty Sehgal, spokesperson of the Petrol Pump Dealers Association Punjab, representing 4,000 pumps. “We've written to the Punjab government, seeking their direction to the OMCs (oil marketing companies) to ensure adequate supplies.”