Kharif crops sowing begins at a slower pace in Haryana

The sowing of kharif crops in Haryana has commenced on a weaker note as the state awaits its ‘date’ with monsoon in July.

Agriculturists say delay in monsoon and deficient rainfall could impact the prospects for kharif crops this year.

Kharif crops, generally sown from May to August, is dependent on rain, and, any change in rainfall pattern during monsoon periods impacts the kharif crops.

According to the department of metereology, monsoon in Haryana, which normally reaches the state by 1 July is expected to get delayed by a few more days.

R P Narwal, Research Director, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural Univ-ersity (CCSHAU) expressed concern about the delay in the arrival of monsoon.

Information available from the state agriculture department shows acreage under kharif crops, including paddy, jowar, maize, bajra and guar this year has been less compared to corresponding period the previous year.

Area of paddy in the state has reached 2.12 lakh hectares while in the corresponding period last year it was 3.10 lakh hectares. Similarly, area under maize in the state was registered at 0.02 lakh hectares as against 0.05 lakh hectare achieved last year.

Sowing for bajra has been delayed while area under guar also has been registered at 0.07 lakh hectares as against 0.18 lakh hectares achieved last year.