Lower acreage, bad weather to hit Rabi output in Gujarat

Lower acreage coupled with unfavourable weather conditions is likely hit Rabi production in Gujarat in 2008-09. On the one hand, area under wheat, mustard, isabgul and sugarcane crops has declined in the state this Rabi season, while on the other erratic weather condition may affect the yield of wheat, isabgul and jeera.

Data compiled by the Gujarat government show that the acreage of Rabi crops has fallen to 30.44 lakh hectares in 2008-09 from 34.40 lakh hectares previous year. Area under wheat (both irrigated and un-irrigated) cultivation has declined to 12.07 lakh hectares from 13.93 lakh hectares in 2007-08.

"Apart from lower acreage, climatic conditions were not favourable for many crops, especially wheat. Overall, Rabi production will decline this year. In case of many crops yields are going to take a hit due to weather vagaries. Wheat cultivation in Gujarat may plummet to 30 t0 31 lakh metric tonnes as against the estimated production of more than 37 lakh tonnes last fiscal", said top government officials.

"There is a possibility of around 30 per cent fall in Gujarat's wheat production. Though jeera (cumin seed) production has increased this year, erratic weather is likely to damage 10 per cent output of the commodity this season", said Dr. B. K. Kikani, vice chancellor, Junagadh Agriculture University. "Winter was good this year in the country for every crop, but it was not so favourable for Gujarat, perticularly in case of wheat and jeera crops", he added.

According to a recent survey by the Solvent Extractors' Association of India (SEA), the mustard production in Gujarat is estimated to be around 3.6 lakh tonnes this year from 4.2 lakh tonnes last year. The fall is largely seen due to reduction in area under mustard, which came down to 2.94 lakh hectares in 2008-09 from 3.41 lakh hectares same period last year.

Isabgul acreage, too, has been lower in Gujarat at 17,400 hectares, which was 24,000 hectares last year. "Gujarat produced 3 lakh bags (one bag weighing 75 kgs) and this year the output will decline as isabgul yield may get affected due to unfavourable weather", said Vishnu Patel, owner of Son Psyllium Industries based in Unjha, one the main isabgul trading centers in Gujarat.