Gujarat kharif crop area down 6% from a year ago

Cotton sowing has increased but peanut's has decreased over last year

Delayed monsoon has brought down the kharif crop (autumn harvest one) area in Gujarat. According to data provided by the state agriculture department, the area has reduced six per cent against a year ago. The cotton area has increased but peanut's is down.

By the data, as on Tuesday, the kharif crop area is 8.04 million hectares, down 496,400 hectares from a year ago's 8.53 million hectares.

State agriculture minister Govind Patel said, "The main reason for the lower sowing is deficient rains. Saurashtra and Kutch have received poor rains."

Peanut, bajra, jowar and moong areas have gone down 25 to 70 per cent in the kharif season.

The sowing during June and July saw sufficient rains. But August didn't receive sufficient rains.

The department officials said, "The sowing of oilseeds, pulses and cereals have almost been done. There is not much hope for improvement here. Now the area of castor, tobacco, vegetables and fodder will improve by the September-end."

The cotton area till Tuesday was 2.97 million hectares against 2.67 million hectares a year ago.

Peanut is the state's second major crop. About 1.22 million hectares has been covered by it against 1.65 million hectares a year ago, down 425,000 hectares.

The cereal area is 1.28 million hectares against 1.52 million hectares a year ago.

The sowing of pulses has been registered on 368,900 hectares, down 18 per cent from a year ago's 449,600 hectares. The sowing of oilseeds has declined from 2.33 million hectares to 2.01 million hectares.

By the department, peanut and cotton areas will not increase. Also, pulses, oilseeds and cereals' area will not improve much.