Late rainfall affects sowing, grain output in Maharashtra
Kharif foodgrain production estimated to decline 17% to 7.6 million tonnes in 2011-12.
Maharashtra’s kharif foodgrain production is estimated to dip 17 per cent to 7.6 million tonnes during 2011-12, compared to 9.1 mt in the corresponding period of 2010-11.
According to the first estimate by the state agriculture commissionerate, the area under kharif foodgrain had also dipped to 5.96 million hectares against 6.96 mha earlier. A senior officer, who did not want to be identified, told Business Standard: “These are first estimates and the reduction in kharif foodgrain is largely due to the late arrival of rain, especially in parts of Marathwada and Vidarbha. However, as the rainfall has picked up since last week in most of the state, these estimates may change. The production will further rise.”
| NOT SO BRIGHT First advance estimates of production of main kharif crops during 2011-12 | ||
| 2010-11 | 2011-12 | |
| Rice | 26.01 | 25.21 |
| Kh.Jowar | 14.11 | 11.19 |
| Bajra | 10.97 | 7.02 |
| Ragi | 1.17 | 1.14 |
| Maize | 21.23 | 16.17 |
| Kharif Cereals | 73.76 | 60.98 |
| Other Kh Pulses | 0.61 | 0.33 |
| Kharif Pulses | 17.66 | 14.89 |
| Kharif Foodgrains | 91.42 | 75.86 |
| Groundnut | 3.53 | 2.46 |
| Sesamum | 0.19 | 0.13 |
| Nigerseed | 0.09 | 0.08 |
| Sunflower | 0.41 | 0.13 |
| Soyabean | 42.6 | 41.93 |
| Kharif Oilseed | 46.87 | 44.77 |
| Sugarcane (Harvested) | 788.38 | 834.16 |
| Cotton( Lint) | 76.03 | 84.07 |
| *First Advance Estimates Crops Production in Lakh tonnes | ||
In the paddy growing area of Konkan, about 250,000 ha, the rainfall has normal, but in Vidarbha, it has been 80-85 per cent of the norm. Paddy growing Chandrapur, Bhandara, Gondiya and Gadchiroli districts have reported late arrival of rain, leading to a dip in sowing to 1.38 million hectares against 1.48 mha last year. This would mean production of 2.52 mt against 2.6 mt earlier.
Sowing of kharif cereals has fallen to 3.96 mha against 4.45 mha earlier. The first estimate is of cereal production falling by 17 per cent to 6.1 mt against 7.4 mt earlier. Similarly, sowing of pulses had fallen to two mha against 2.51 mha earlier, meaning a 16 per cent fall in output to 1.48 mt against 1.76 mt last year. Moong and urad sowing and production are both down; the former;s output down to 200,000 tonnes against 380,000 tonnes earlier and the latter to 160,000 tonnes from 320,000 tonnes.
However, tur dal brings cheer, despite a reduction in sowing to 1.19 mha against 1.32 mha in 2010-11, said the official. Its production os estimated to rise to 1.08 mt against 990,000 tonnes last year.
He said the situation was different in the case of oilseed and cotton. The area under the former had risen to 3.38 mha against 3.13 mha earlier, with production so far estimated at 4.47 mt against 4.68 mt before. The official said the output would rise further with the good rainfall reported since last week.
The area under cotton rose to 4.09 mha, compared to 3.93 mha last year. The resulting rise in output is estimated at 8.4 million bales (176 kg), against 7.6 million bales in 2010-11.
Sugarcane cultivation has increased to 1.02 mha, compared to 960,000 ha last year, with production expected at 83.4 mt against 78.8 mt earlier.