Weather clouds cotton, groundnut prospects in state

Sustained heavy rains and cloudy weather across Gujarat has posed a threat to cotton and groundnut crops. Farmers fear a damage to these crops due to want of sunlight.

Experts raised alarm for cotton crop as it requires sunlight after a prolonged cloudy weather. According to M D Khanpara, research scientist for cotton, Junagadh Agriculture University maintained that for past 50 days, the weather has been cloudy. Also there has been heavy rains in last one week but that would not damage the crop but the sunlight is required especially for cotton crop.

"Such a situation would interrupt vegetative growth of cotton and this may also affect the yield. However, so far, there has been no report for any diseases in cotton. But heavy rains and severe winds in coastal areas like Porbandar and Jamnagar have caused damage to flowering in cotton crop," he added.

Meanwhile, the state agriculture data shows that as on September 5, cotton sowing has reached to 2.95 million hectares in Gujarat, which is higher by 326,000 hectares from 2.63 million hectares in previous Kharif season.

"The recent heavy rains may damage groundnut, which was sown early in the season. If the rainy weather continues further, there are some possibilities of disease," said K C Dobariya, research scientist for groundnut at JAU.

However, the state agriculture department has not reported any damage to the crop so far. "There are no reports of any damage to any crop in the state. Overall crop condition is good. There is no possibility of disease in cotton, while for groundnut, it is favorable atmosphere as pod formations is currently underway," said J H Suthar, deputy director of agriculture.According to Dobariya, there are some reports of disease like rust and leaf spot in groundnut crop in some parts of Saurashtra region but it can be controlled. "Groundnut also needs open weather now," he said. Groundnut sowing in the current kharif season has reduced in the state from 1.67 million hectares to 1.43 million hectares, showing a reduction of about 238,000 hectares.