Gujarat rabi sowing down 20%

Delayed and scanty rains in Gujarat have hit rabi sowing this year. According to latest estimates by the state government, rabi sowing in the state declined about 20 per cent, compared to last year. For the 2012-13 rabi season, sowing was registered at 2.98 million hectares, against 3.71 million hectares reported in the corresponding period last year, according to data provided by the Gujarat agriculture department.

Compared with the three-year average of 3.42 million hectares, sowing declined about 13 per cent. Rabi sowing starts from October, while harvesting begins in February-March.

“The fall in rabi sowing is primarily because of the shortage of water in the Saurashtra and Kutch regions. Rains in most parts of the state were delayed and now, there is not enough water in some regions. Grain production, especially wheat production, would be affected due to the fall in rabi sowing. However, we would be able to produce more than our requirement,” said Govindbhai Patel, minister of state for agriculture, Gujarat. The acreage for grains, including wheat, jowar, maize and chana (pigeon peas), saw a decline. Acreage for oilseeds and vegetables, too, fell this rabi season. This year, wheat sowing was carried out across 1.04 million hectares, against 1.3 million hectares last year. The three-year average for rabi wheat sowing stands at 1.27 million hectares.

This year, production of chana in Gujarat is also expected to fall. Chana acreage this rabi season stood at 1,71,500 hectares, against 2,36,700 hectares last year. “We expect jeera, mustard and cumin seed production to be fairly good this year. Most of the north Gujarat regions have benefited from the Narmada canal. We expect good production there,” said Patel.

Meanwhile, the rabi sowing acreage across the country rose compared to last year. According to data from the Union agriculture ministry, total sown area for the 2012-13 rabi season stands at 61.67 million hectares, against 61.55 million hectares last year. However, the acreage for wheat and rice crops is lower than last year.