Unseasonal rain likely to damage jeera crop

Flowering of mango could be affected because of moisture in atmosphere

The unseasonal rains in the last couple of days is likely to damage standing jeera (cumin seed) and tobacco crops while it could prove beneficial for the wheat and other rabi crops.

"While recent spell of rain could help conserve water in the soil, the flip side to it is that humidity in the earth could also give rise to diseases in standing crops like jeera and tobacco," said vice chancellor of Anand Agriculture University (AAU), A M Sheikh.

He said that jeera crop is likely to be more affected by the rains. According to Sheikh flowering of mango could be affected because of moisture in the atmosphere. "However, rains are likely to benefit most of the Rabi crops," he added.

Gujarat agriculture minister Govind Patel said, “There is no report of crop damage as of now, but crops like jeera, coriander and fennel may be damage due to the recent unseasonal rain.”

“About 5-10 percent jeera crop could get damaged due to recent rains and if such unfavorable weather continues than it may cause more harm to jeera,”claimed P D Rathod, joint director, agriculture department, Rajkot. There were also chances of blight disease in jeera crop, he added.

As of January 20, in Gujarat sowing of jeera was done in 455,000 hectares as against last year’s 335,200 hectares. Similarly, wheat sowing has covered 1.41 million hectares as against 1.04 million hectares in same period last year. Tobacco sowing has been completed in 949 hectares in Gujarat.

The fear of damage to jeera crop has led to rise in price of the commodity. In the last two days price has increased by about Rs 50 to Rs 2200-2350 per 20 kg. An Unjha based jeera trader said, “Market sentiment was changed after unseasonal rains in Gujarat and price of jeera has increased."

Nationally, the recent spell of rains is considered to be a boon for wheat crop as it could lead to a bumper crop.

"As of now, the current spell of rains is very good for the standing wheat crop and will further aid in achieving bumper harvest. In rainfed areas, the rain spell is like a boon and we have received no report of any damage to the standing wheat crop from anywhere in the country till date. But, for other crops, there could some impact on mustard crop if the rainfall intensity increases in the next few weeks -- Indu Sharma, director, Directorate of Wheat Research.

"We have not received any report of damage to standing rabi crop due to the current spell of rains," a senior agriculture ministry said.

According to the Gujarat agriculture department, sowing for rabi season 2013-14 as on January 6 was complete in 3.84 million hectares as against 2.96 million hectares in corresponding period last year. This means against total sowing area of 3.57 million hectares (average of last three years) sowing has been done in 107% area.