Renewed monsoon in UP perks up kharif prospects

The recent spell of rainfall has perked up the prospects of kharif crops in Uttar Pradesh, although there would be a downfall in production compared with last year.

The rainfall deficiency in the state, which was almost 60 per cent, has come down to 35 per cent.

“The state would continue to receive good rainfall and the deficiency could trickle down to 20 per cent as per our estimate,” state Met Director J P Gupta told Business Standard.

In 2008-09, the total kharif foodgrain acreage and production in the state stood at 8.2 million hectares and 15.9 million tonnes, respectively.

The acreage and production of paddy, the major kharif crop, accounted for over 6 million hectares and 13.5 million tonnes, respectively.

“This year, the target was to bring 9.18 million hectares of land under kharif crops but so far 7.11 million hectares have been cultivated, which will definitely lower kharif production. However, the current spell of rainfall will help minimise the losses,” agriculture Joint Director Raja Singh said.

According to last month’s data, the sowing of paddy, which accounts for 80 per cent of total kharif output, was about 30 per cent. However, so far, about 4 million hectares of the targeted 5.95 million hectares have been sown with paddy, Singh added.

“Especially, low-lying areas in districts like Varanasi and Chandauli, where indigenous rice varieties like Mansuri are sown, would benefit with these spells,” he said, adding that fresh data was being collated from all the districts.

Besides, these showers will adequately moisten the soil and help in bumper wheat crop in the following rabi season.

Earlier, the state had declared 58 districts as drought-hit and demanded Rs 7,800 crore from the Centre for drought relief.