MUMBAIKARS looking for some respite from erratic rainfall predictions as experienced on 26/7, are in for a disappointment. Reason: The much-awaited installation of a Doppler Radar for accurate weather forecast continues to be stalled for one reason or the other.

A Week back, the rising temperatures in the state had the farmers worried about sowing of kharif crop. Even horticulturists, especially apple and mango growers, were under immense stress over fruit size. But the moderate rainfall that has intermittently continued all over the state during the past three days has ended all their worries. Apple growers in Shimla, who have already suffered a loss of nearly 40 per cent due to a hail storm in April, have been relieved by the rain.

The M.S. Swaminathan Commission, appointed by the Central government to study the distressed farm sector in Idukki district, has submitted its report to Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, team leader S. Balaravi has said.

Bad weather is threatening a big shortfall in this year's US maize harvest, according to US officials, risking a further upward push to food and energy prices. Maize is the main feedstock for US ethanol. A further rapid rise in its price is likely to add to growing concern on Capitol Hill that federal biofuel subsidies are worsening the food crisis.

The National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) yesterday warned the public to be vigilant on sudden landslides that could occur in eight districts Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Badulla, Ratnapura, Kegalle, Kalutara, Galle and Matara as a result of torrential rains.

There have been reports of a bumper crop in the region but a large number of farmers were hit hard by the recent unseasonal rain. In some areas, the wheat crop was totally washed away. The Tribune correspondents check out the field situation in Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh Punjab There are many questions bothering farmers. How will they pay off their existing loans? Will they get a loan to sow paddy?