With delayed rains, MP prepares contingency plan

Twin problem of truant rains and shortage of soya seed have diminished chances of yielding better crop this kharif season

Unfavourable weather conditions and seed shortage have forced Madhya Pradesh government machinery to chalk out a contingency plan for the farm sector.

The twin problem of truant rains and shortage of soya seed, which has reached an alarming rate, have diminished the chances of yielding better crop this kharif season.

"State has readied a contingency plan and farmers have been advised to switch over to other crops in lieu of soyabean. This year state may see more acreage in maize, paddy and cotton," a well-placed official in state farmers welfare and agriculture department said.

State has estimated sowing an area of 13.02 million hectare against 12.46 million hectare of the previous year (third estimate). But soya acreage is likely to come down to 5.5-5.8 million hectare due to seed shortage and truant rains.

"Acreage of paddy is likely to go up to 2.5 million hectare against 2.0 million estimated earlier. Also Bt cotton (as Madhya Pradesh is now a 100% Bt Cotton growing state) will also go up to 700,000 hectare against 600,000 hectare of the previous year.

Similarly, maize acreage is estimated to go up to 1.5 million hectare from one million hectare.

The state had this year posted a handsome growth of 25% and the productivity has been escalated significantly from 1,104 kg per hectare to 1,681 per hectare. Only soyabean productivity is expected to be doubled during this season by rains have watered down hopes.

"This year we were expecting soya productivity to reach 1,450 kg per hectare against 717 kg per hectare," the official said, "Since there are better cultivation methods are in practice in Madhya Pradesh kharif productivity was expected to touch 1681 kg per hectare against 1,104 kg per hectare but truant rains does not favour estimates.

" This year no district of Madhya Pradesh has received normal rains so far. "There are no chances of rains till 30 June," a weatherman in Bhopal said.