Truant rains cast clouds on Gujarat crops
It's not exactly a delay yet, but farmers are worried. After receiving five consecutive normal monsoons, even a 10-day delay is leaving furrows on farmers’ foreheads.
By ET Bureau |
AHMEDABAD: It's not exactly a delay yet, but farmers are worried. After receiving five consecutive normal monsoons, even a 10-day delay is leaving furrows on farmers��� foreheads. The regions received pre-monsoon rains early June and the farmers undertook sowing without waiting for the monsoon to set in full swing. However, with no signs of rains thereafter, cotton has already started wilting. Experts fear that if the monsoon is delayed by another week, it will affect the groundnut crop too. Major changes in the cropping pattern of the current season are expected if the monsoon does not set in by July 1.
As of now, eight lakh hectares in Gujarat is under cultivation, which accounts for 10% of the total
cultivable land under kharif crop. Most of sowing has happened in Saurashtra, where cotton and groundnut are sown.
���Heavy showers in the month of June were, in fact, rains before the onset of monsoon. However, a farmer can never resist the temptation to sow. Seeds are sown in the regions that received 2-3 inches of showers. Now, with the monsoon yet to set in, there is a negative impact on cotton crops,��� said vice-chancellor of Junagadh Agriculture University BK Kakkani.
He added: ���Farmers equipped with irrigation facilities have started supplying water to the areas under cultivation. Since a mere 10% of the total area is under irrigation, crops sown in the rest of the land have started wilting and till now, almost 30-35% of cotton crop has dried up. Farmers have to sow again in these areas.��� Under normal circumstances, the onset of monsoon in Gujarat is between June 15-20 every year. During first week of June, many regions of Saurashtra and south Gujarat including Junagadh, Rajkot, Amreli, Jamnagar and Bhavnagar witnessed heavy showers. These areas witness major cultivation of cotton and groundnut. However, afterwards, there has been a dry spell.
As per estimates of agriculture department, it is expected that this year, groundnut would be sown in 18.5 lakh hectares, whereas cotton would be sown in 22.4 lakh hectares. If monsoon does not set in by the first week of July, the numbers and figures can change drastically, claim reliable sources.
Meanwhile, sources in the meteorological department stated that rains are not expected in the coming week. There might be intermittent showers. ���It will take quite some time for low pressure to build up in the Bay of Bengal,��� said Indian Meteorological Department director (Forecast) Kamaljeet Ray.
As of now, eight lakh hectares in Gujarat is under cultivation, which accounts for 10% of the total
cultivable land under kharif crop. Most of sowing has happened in Saurashtra, where cotton and groundnut are sown.
���Heavy showers in the month of June were, in fact, rains before the onset of monsoon. However, a farmer can never resist the temptation to sow. Seeds are sown in the regions that received 2-3 inches of showers. Now, with the monsoon yet to set in, there is a negative impact on cotton crops,��� said vice-chancellor of Junagadh Agriculture University BK Kakkani.
He added: ���Farmers equipped with irrigation facilities have started supplying water to the areas under cultivation. Since a mere 10% of the total area is under irrigation, crops sown in the rest of the land have started wilting and till now, almost 30-35% of cotton crop has dried up. Farmers have to sow again in these areas.��� Under normal circumstances, the onset of monsoon in Gujarat is between June 15-20 every year. During first week of June, many regions of Saurashtra and south Gujarat including Junagadh, Rajkot, Amreli, Jamnagar and Bhavnagar witnessed heavy showers. These areas witness major cultivation of cotton and groundnut. However, afterwards, there has been a dry spell.
As per estimates of agriculture department, it is expected that this year, groundnut would be sown in 18.5 lakh hectares, whereas cotton would be sown in 22.4 lakh hectares. If monsoon does not set in by the first week of July, the numbers and figures can change drastically, claim reliable sources.
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���This year, the monsoon seems to be uncertain. In the beginning, there were heavy showers but now, the monsoon is delayed. Since there are cold winds in the morning, there are less chances of rain in the near future,��� said State Agriculture Department director SR Chaudhary. ���There would be change in crop pattern, if the state doesn���t receive rains in the first 10 days of next month. Farmers, in lieu of cotton, will sow jowar, castor and pulses,��� he added. Meanwhile, sources in the meteorological department stated that rains are not expected in the coming week. There might be intermittent showers. ���It will take quite some time for low pressure to build up in the Bay of Bengal,��� said Indian Meteorological Department director (Forecast) Kamaljeet Ray.
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