UP crops to gain from late rain

Uttar Pradesh, the leading producer of rabi crops in the country, has set a target of over 12.6 million hectares of acreage this season.

According to preliminary survey by the state agriculture department, about 12.5 million hectares has already been brought under sowing so far.

Wheat, which accounts for 80 per cent of the total rabi crop production in UP, is likely to be sown over an area of 9.4 million hectares during 2010-11.

“The rabi outlook for this season is good and we are expecting a bumper crop,” a senior agriculture department official told Business Standard. He also discounted any significant loss to the prospective crop production due to the current cold spell.

Last year, rabi production in the state was 29.48 million tonnes, which officials felt would be overtaken this year.

The official informed that the final estimated data for the state rabi crop would be available after mid-January. Rabi crops also include pulses such as gram, masur and arhar.

Over the years, rabi acreage in UP has been constant. During 2004-05, the acreage was about 11.8 million hectares, which dipped to 10.9 million hectares during 2007-08. However, the corresponding production improved from 26 million tonnes to 27.4 million tonnes during the same period.

The late rain spell during the last monsoon season is also likely to help the rabi crop.