Rains revive hope, concern remains over kharif sowing

Though fresh spells of rain revived hopes of a normal monsoon, concern remained on kharif sowing which was recorded in 1.6 million hectares across the state, about seven per cent less than during the same period last year.

The state department of agriculture said that the sowing of kharif crops in Gujarat till date was only 18 per cent of the average sowing in the last three years. According to the data released by the department sowing of kharif crops like Paddy, Bajri, Jowar, Maize, pulses and oil seeds, have been done in 16.01 lakh hectares till date, compared to 1.71 million hectares last year, which shows a deficiency of over six per cent. However, compared to average total sowing in the last three years, the present sowing comes to 18 per cent.

Agriculture scientists were optimistic about the advance of the monsoon and hoped that the delay would be covered in the next 10-15 days. They however, expressed concern over the paddy crop and said that any further delay in rains could affect the production of paddy in the state.

SOWING OF KHARIF CROP IN GUJARAT
	2011	2012
Paddy	35,700	26,500
Bajri	11,200	14,400
Jowar	7,000	3,200
Maize	40,000	93,200
Groundnut	6,56,700	394,800
Castor	7,500	100
Soyabean	18,400	16,500
Source: State Agriculture department (As on July 9, 2012) (Area in Hectares)

"The delay in monsoon is likely decrease the production of kharif crop in the state, especially paddy," said vice chancellor of Navsari Agriculture University (NAU) A R Pathak. "In south Gujarat itself there was deficiency of 150mm. Due to this there has been less sowing in these region," he said.

Pathak was of the opinion that with monsoon on revival path in Gujarat, things could improve and the deficiency could be recovered. But he cautioned that any further delay in rains could also affect the pulses besides paddy.

Anand Agriculture University (AAU), vice chancellor A M Sheikh said that there has been a delay of over 10 days in the onset of monsoon, hence the sowing was low in most parts of Gujarat. "However, there was little rain in south Gujarat and Saurashtra region and the farmers who have done the sowing might benefit from it," he said.

Sheikh was also of the opinion that any further delay in rains would be harmful for the paddy crop in the state. However, there would be less affect on cotton, bajri and tur crops as the farmers have already delayed the sowing.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued forecast of heavy to very heavy rain in some parts of Gujarat in the next 24 hours. IMD director here J N Sarkar said that the rainfall in Gujarat has been deficient by 68 per cent, however, suitable conditions of a well marked low pressure area over north-west Madhya Pradesh with associated upper air cyclonic circulation could reduce the deficiency significantly in the coming days.

"We expect good rainfall in the coming days as a low pressure exists over the the central India," he said.