Shower Prop For Gujarat Groundnut Growers
Unseasonal spells of rains in parts of Gujarat have proved to be a boon for farmers in the Saurashtra region of the state, who are about to begin the pre-monsoon sowing of groundnut and cotton.
For farmers in the southern region of Saurashtra, who perennially faced water shortage coupled with recent power cuts, the unseasonal rains have proved to be a blessing in disguise, a senior official in the agriculture department said.
The pre-monsoon rains were more than welcome in the Saurashtra region and Kutch where the rains lead to the small and big water reservoirs and dams collecting enough water to last for at least 15 to 20 days, he added.
He, however, warned that any additional rain would ruin the groundnut and cotton crops, and said that actual sowing of other crops would be undertaken only in the monsoon season.
The unseasonal rains had caused damage to the funnel (varialli or saunf) crops in Mehsana and Sabarkantha districts, in north Gujarat, the official added.
He said a survey to assess the effects of the unseasonal rains in the state was being planned.