Delayed rains to affect food grain production, yield in Gujarat

Cost of irrigation is also likely to increase due to the lack of rains

The dry spell in June coupled with no signs of revival of the south-west monsoon in coming week, will not only affect the kharif production in Gujarat, but is also likely to dig a hole in state farmers’ pockets as lack on rain during sowing season will increase the cost of irrigation. Furthermore, the yield per hectare of major crops like cotton, groundnut and paddy is likely to be affected as the water has already become scarce in many parts of the crop growing regions.

Compared to 50 per cent sowing in the state as on June 30 last year, this year the sowing has been only 14.73 per cent. Against cultivable area of 8.68 million hectare, sowing has been done only in 1.28 million hectares in Gujarat as on June 30. Whereas, during the same period last year sowing was completed in 4.368 million hectares. As on July 1, the figures released by the state agriculture department showed that in 2014 kharif season sowing was down 70 per cent compared to 2013 season.

Though many of the farmers are yet to begin work, those who have initiated sowing are facing crop damage due as germination of seeds is likely to be affected if the rains are delayed for one more week.

Vice chancellor of Navsari Agriculture University (NAU) A R Pathak explained that where there was irrigation facility, the crops are not likely to be affected more, but those areas which dependent on rains, the situation could worsen. “In south Gujarat region production of paddy could be affected if the rains get delayed by 7-10 days more. The grain size could decrease and there is even threat of sapling getting damaged,” Pathak said.

He expressed concern over the cultivation of vegetables in various regions as that could also take a hit in case of delay in rain. With regard to future of cotton and groundnut already sown in north Gujarat and Saurashtra region, Pathak said, “They too would be affected as due to lack of water the seed would get damaged.”

The weather department too had no good news for the farmers. They are not expecting significant rains till July 7. “There is some activity in the Arabian sea with building of an off shore trough along the Gujarat coast. We expect light to moderate rainfall in coming days in few places of the state mainly south Gujarat region,” said director of Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Ahmedabad, Jayant Sarkar. He did not expect any change in the prevailing condition till next 4-5 days. “We will be assessing the situation next week for further forecast,” he added. As on July 3, Gujarat had received 3.3 per cent of it total rainfall with as many as 100 talukas yet to receive rains this season.

According to the state agriculture department, as of June 30 groundnut has been sown in 0.42 million hectares while cotton has been sown in 0.723 million hectares. While farmers are still waiting for rains to arrive to speed up cultivation of paddy for which sowing has taken place in only 5,000 hectares against 0.74 million hectares of total area under paddy cultivation in the state.

Janak Patel a cotton farmer in Rampara village of Savarkundla in Amreli district lost his entire crop due to delayed rains. “We had begun sowing in four bigha land following rains in early June. But after that there has been not rain. Also, the level of water in the irrigation well has come down,” Janak Patel said. He also said that other farmers in his own village and those in nearby village have suffered similar losses. He feels that if the rain is further delayed he will have to go for less water intensive crops like castor, sesame or fodder.

Another farmer Valjibhai Patel from Sayla in Surendranagar district said that besides scarcity of irrigation water, they are also face shortage of drinking water in their region. “If there is further delay in rain the entire production of state will be affected. The cotton production of the state could be halved if absence of rain for the next 15 days,” Valjibhai said.

For the year 2013-14 the project figures of cotton production in Gujarat was 11.6 million bales (170 kg) while the target for 2014-15 has been set at 10.8 million bales.

According to the Solvent Extractor’s Association of India 2.60 million groundnut was produced in Gujarat in last year, where as target set by the union Agriculture minister for current fiscal is 4.25 million tonnes.