No drought here? It's bumper crop in dry Jaisalmer

JAISALMER: At a time when several parts of the country are facing drought, the dry and arid region of Jaisalmer has doubled its annual crop production.

Jaisalmer’s crops this year are worth Rs 300 crore, up from Rs 150 crore last year, thanks to a continuous flow of water through the Indira Gandhi Canal, said agriculture officer Ranjeet Singh Sarva. The canal is one of the largest starting from Punjab and terminating in the Thar Desert in Rajasthan. Areas that benefited the most include Mohangarh and Ramgarh, where damages due to extreme weather and hail storms were also minimum. The government will also get a revenue of Rs 2 crore in taxes. Chana’s worth this year is Rs 150-200 crore.

Other crops include mustard, isabgol and jeera. Crops worth Rs 200 crore will be sold in mandis and the rest will go to markets.

Crops have started arriving in mandis and farmers are happy. Mohangarh mandi has the maximum buzz. Mandi secretary Rajnish Singh said the mandis will generate a record revenue this year.