Slow beginning to kharif sowing in Gujarat

Despite timely commencement of monsoon in Gujarat, negative trends have been registered in sowing progress of Kharif crops so far this year.

The state government, though, is optimistic that sowing figures will match last year’s numbers as rainfall has been good till now.

According to the data provided by the agriculture department of Gujarat government, sowing has been done on 230,100 hectares as on June 15, down by 31 per cent from last year’s 332,900 hectares for the corresponding period. Progress in groundnut sowing has seen marginal downfall but cotton’s sowing area has also reduced from that of last year.

In all, crops have been sown on 147,600 hectares in Saurashtra and Kutch regions followed by North Gujarat, where they have been covered on 59,200 hectares. Central and South Gujarat have recorded very low sowing areas as these regions have received insufficient rainfall.

Sowing in Central Gujarat, which comprises districts like Anand, Kheda, Panchmahal, Dahod, Chhota Udepur and Vadodara, has been done on 16,600 hectares while, sowing in South Gujarat covering Bharuch, Surat, Navsari, Dangs, Tapi, Narmada and Valsad districts has been registered on just 6,700 hectares.

The data further suggests that groundnut has been covered on 60,500 hectares this year as against 64,000 hectares last year in the corresponding period, a decrease of about 6 per cent. While, cotton sowing area has reduced by about 40 per cent to 151,400 hectares so far from 256,800 hectares in the corresponding period last year.

An agriculture department official said, “Progress of real time sowing is normal and will gear up as monsoon has progressed well in the state, especially in Saurashtra region. The data, though, suggests negative trends because of almost no pre-monsoon sowing this year.”

The official admitted that groundwater-based pre-monsoon sowing did not take place this time because of weak monsoon last year. Many farmers, who have irrigation facilities or those who are near to dams, generally undertake pre-monsoon sowing after mid May every year.

Other than groundnut and cotton, area of paddy and tur have seen significant growth so far. Paddy has been sown on 2,000 hectares so far as against 100 hectares during the same period last year and tur has been covered on 1,700 hectares as on date.

The official added, “Progress has been good in Saurashtra region where rainfall has been substantial and if rainfall continues or covers the entire state in coming days, overall sowing advancement will pick up speed.”

The state official expects sowing to be undertaken on over 8.6 million hectares this kharif season if monsoon is normal.