Monsoon sowing in Gujarat rose by over five lakh hectare in a week to almost 70 lakh hectare in the previous week, said a report of state agriculture department. However, farmers are concerned that it would be difficult to preserve existing sowing because of scarce rains and lower inflow of water in state dams. If it does not rain in rain deficit regions in coming days, sown crops are at a risk of damage, they fear.
According to a weekly report of state agriculture department, kharif sowing as on August 6 stood at 69.98 lakh hectare, indicating a rise of about 5.5 lakh hectare over 64.5 lakh hectare in the week ending July 30. This is 81.7 per cent of three-year average seasonal sowing of 85.65 lakh hectare. Sowing in the corresponding period in the previous year was higher at 75.83 lakh hectare. State's main crop cotton is sown over 26.58 lakh hectare, followed by groundnut (14.53 lakh hectare), fodder (7.6 lakh hectare), paddy (6.80 lakh hectare) and maize (3.05 lakh hectare).
However, rains have been erratic this year in Gujarat, after a delayed onset, south Gujarat and parts of Saurashtra witnessed floods, while north Gujarat, Kutch, and parts of Saurashtra are facing a drought-like situation as the state has received hardly any rains in past 12 days. Rains have almost stagnated for almost two-weeks at 53-54 percent of seasonal average. According to a data of Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA), the state has recorded 454 mm rains till Wednesday.
Farmers are worried that sowing will be severely damaged in the state if it does not witness widespread rainfall in the coming days.
"The challenge is now about protecting the sown crops. Kutch and Surendranagar are facing near drought. The government needs to announce relief operations, especially to protect cattle, grass needs to be supplied at places which do not have sufficient fodder. The government should get ready to ensure that farmers are paid insurance on time in event of failure of crops," said Sagar Rabari, secretary of Gujarat Khedut Samaj. He said that he has received reports of paddy crop drying down, cotton may start drying down soon, leaves of groundnut have started turning yellow. Failure of crops in Surendranagar Porbandar, Patan, Banaskantha and Arvalli is likely according to reports we have received, he said.
FARMERS’ DEMANDS
- The government needs to announce relief operations, especially to protect cattle
- Grass needs to be supplied at places with insufficient fodder
- It should ensure that farmers are paid insurance on time in event of failure of crops
