The Hindu Business Line : Monsoon hits central parts, revives hopes

HOPES of better kharif production, especially of oilseeds and cotton, have been revived with the north-western and western parts of the country receiving good showers from the weekend.

"We have been receiving good rainfall from Saturday evening. Entire Madhya Pradesh and parts of Maharashtra have been covered by this. This will certainly help kharif crops," industry sources said.

According to Mr Rajesh Agrawal, Chairman, Soyabean Processors Association of India, the rains have improved the prospect of a better soyabean crop.

"The situation has definitely improved from the gloom we were in last week. The showers will certainly help the standing crop and could even encourage growers to sow in some more areas," he said.

Good monsoon showers in Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat are key to good kharif oilseed and cotton crops since these both States contribute significantly to the national production.

While Madhya Pradesh is the soyabean hub of the country, Gujarat has turned out to be the key groundnut and cotton-growing State.

"What is heartening for us is that even key growing areas in Rajasthan have begun experiencing rains since last (Tuesday) evening," Mr Agrawal said.

Mr Salil Mukhati, a grower in the Malwa region in Madhya Pradesh, said the rains would help the standing crop sown around middle of June.

"Now, we shouldn't have problems for the next couple of months," he said.

According to the Indian Meteorological Department, heavy rainfall is likely to continue in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Gujarat among other States.

Some parts of these States are expected to experience heavy rainfall.

Barring East Madhya Pradesh, rainfall in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat has been lower by 30 to 50 per cent.

In East Madhya Pradesh, it is less by 19 per cent.

Industry sources, however, said that they would not like to make any conclusion on the impact of the delayed rainfall.

"We will have to watch out for the impact. Certainly, there will be some impact but not as we feared last week," Mr Agrawal said.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, area under rice has gone up, while it has declined in the case of cotton and coarse cereals (see table).

In Gujarat, moderate rainfall during the last two days has helped the standing crops. Some parts of Saurashtra region, including Amereli, Bhavnagar and Junagadh, received rainfall of about 1.5-2 inches.

As a result, groundnut, cotton and other pulses crops have been saved.

However, the State was still passing through a critical condition, sources said.

Possibility of re-sowing exists for bajra and a portion of cotton sown in June-end after the pre-monsoon showers.

"Moderate rains received at the beginning of the week in the Saurashtra region have helped to some extent," Mr Abhay Raval, a liason officer of the Gujarat Agriculture Department said.

"So far, the State has received only 265 mm as against the average annual rainfall of 862 mm for the entire State," Mr Raval said.

Sowing in Gujarat has been completed to the extent of 79 per cent in 62.03 lakh hectares.

"Looking to current pattern, rainfall will cover the entire State in the next 48 hours," officials said.

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