Crop production nosedives in Gujarat: Socio-Economic review

GANDHINAGAR There has been a significant decrease in the production of foodgrains, cotton and oilseeds in Gujarat, says the Socio-Economic review of the state for 2014-15.

Production of foodgrains during 2014-15 is estimated at 79.47 lakh tonnes, which was 93.82 lakh tonnes last year (2013-14). It shows a reduction of 14.35 tonnes in one year, as per figures provided in the survey tabled in the Assembly today.

The production of oilseeds is estimated at 53.38 lakh tonnes during 2014-15, as against 74.70 lakh tonnes in 2013-14, a reduction of 21.32 lakh tonnes.

During 2013-14, the production of cotton bales, each of 170 kg, was 100.88 lakh bales. This has decreased to 100.66 bales during the year 2014-15, the survey said.

As per the figures, major agro-produces showed negative growth over last year, excluding rice, which grew by 4.40 per cent.

Wheat production dropped by 21.28 per cent, Jowar dropped 52 per cent and Bajra dropped by 21.02 per cent as compared to 2013-14 production. Cotton saw a drop of 0.22 per cent while oil seeds saw a dip of 28.54 per cent during 2014-15.

The drop in production was commensurate with the drop in area of cultivation, excluding cotton and rice. Area of cultivation for wheat has dropped by 19.20 per cent, jowar by 48.44, bajra by 25.36 and oil seeds by 15.65 per cent as compared to 2013-14.