Good rains and water stocks may result in bumper crop

MUMBAI: Most regions in Western India including the drought-affected areas of Maharashtra have received higher than normal rainfall during the current monsoon season according to the data released by the Regional Meteorological Department. This situation has given rise to speculation of bumper production of various crops and vegetables in the coming season.

"Two successive years of bad monsoon had hit farmers in the Marathwada region and some parts of western Maharashtra in 2011 and 2012 but the availability of water in most dams and reservoirs in the state have given hope to the farmers of a bumper crop in 2013. The availability of water in irrigated areas will also give a boost to short term products such as vegetables and prices of commodities like onions will fall soon", said Maharashtra's Agriculture Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil.

Rainfall in Maharashtra, most parts of Gujarat and Goa till mid-August has been above average. Most areas in Gujarat which receive about 700 to730 mm of rainfall in the entire season, have already got 740 to 750 mm. Konkan region in Maharashtra, which normally receives 2450 mm rainfall has already received over 3000 mm rainfall this year. Pune and Nashik which are hubs for production of vegetables, receive about 625-640 mm rainfall in the entire season has received 490 mm till mid-August. While in Vidarbha which mostly produces cash crops, the rainfall is 35% more than the usual average till mid-August. While Goa has received 25% more rainfall than usual.

The water stocks in most dams in Maharashtra have reached a satisfactory level according to the information and data released by the Chief Minister's office. A spokesperson of the Water Resources Ministry of Maharashtra said, "Koyna dam in Maharashtra currently has over 80 Thousand Million Cubic feet (TMC) water while one of the biggest dams in the state Ujani which provides water to three districts for drinking and irrigation purpose has more than 56 TMC water. Most lakes that supply water to Mumbai city and suburbs are 100 % full. The dams that supply water to Pune city and many parts of the district such as Panshet, Varasgaon and Khadakwasala are overflowing and the total stock in these three dams exceeds 28 TMC".

"The water stocks in most regions are satisfactory but in Vidarbha, we may have a problem this year because of excess rainfall. In many districts of Vidarbha region the crop has got destroyed because of excess rains, barring some areas there, in most other parts, we expect a big surge in production of grains and vegetables", said a senior official of the Agriculture ministry.