Cold wave in Gujarat aids in sowing of winter crops

Cold wave prevailing in Gujarat over the last week has aided in sowing of winter crops like wheat and jeera. Though, overall sowing figures are far less compared to that of last year, sowing has picked up from what it was at the onset of winter.

Agriculture experts believe the present cold weather will prove beneficial for wheat and jeera.

Temperature in Gujarat has been hovering between 3 degrees celsius and 11 degrees celsius over the last one week and the same situation is expected to remain the same over the next week.

"Present weather is favourable as winter crops require cold atmosphere. Crops like jeera, coriander, fennel and wheat are in growing state and cold wave supports their cultivation," said I J Dhruj, deputy director of research, Junagadh Agriculture University (JAU).

Wheat has been sown, till December 15, on 819,400 hectares as against 1.26 million hectares last year. Favourable weather has helped in increasing sowing of wheat on 301,900 hectares over the past fifteen days.

Sowing of jeera over the past two weeks has gone up by 64,400 hectares to touch 224,200 hectares.

Till December 15, winter crops have been covered on 2.30 million hectares this year, down from last year's sowing on 3.21 million hectares.

Agriculture department officials believe that sowing may not reach last year's mark but present weather may help improve yield of major crops.