The Hindu Business Line : Rains come, Gujarat escapes drought threat

Gandhinagar, July 29 With heavy rains lashing many parts of Gujarat in the third spell this monsoon since Sunday, the State Government heaved a sigh of relief as the possibility of scarcity or drought facing the State may have receded.

From June 1 until Monday morning, as many as 106 talukas (sub-districts), out of 225, have received at least 250 mm of rainfall this season, while 35 received between 200 mm and 250 mm, 42 between 150 mm and 200 mm, and 21 have received 100-150 mm rains. Only 15 talukas have received between 50 mm and 100 mm and six less than 50 mm rainfall, official sources told Business Line here.

The latest spell of rains has saved this year’s kharif crops and cent per cent targets are now expected to be achieved. The area under cultivation in the Saurashtra and north Gujarat regions could also be increased from 63 lakh hectares (ha) to 80 lakh ha by September end as castor, paddy, jowar, bajra, corn, vegetables and grass are likely to be sown in fresh areas, especially in central and north Gujarat districts.

In particular, the cash crops of groundnut (17.55 lakh ha) and cotton (21.61 lakh ha) are expected to achieve cent per cent targets. While the threat to agricultural production has now receded, the State Government is expecting further rains to fill up the dams to solve the drinking water and rabi irrigation demands, sources said.

With rains playing truant until the last week, the State Government was toying with the idea of declaring 25-30 per cent of the State as scarcity-affected, if the rains failed by July-end.

However, with nearly 200 talukas, out of 225, receiving good rains during the last 48 hours, this possibility is ruled out by the government.

On an average, until July 26, Gujarat had received only 27 per cent of normal rains, compared with 53 per cent it had received till July 31, 2007, and 97 talukas were facing acute shortage of rains.

The sowing that was in about 67 per cent of the 85.77 lakh ha till July-end last year stood at 57 per cent this year. The water level in 183 dams in the State this year was only at 29.5 per cent, compared with 65 per cent last year. The latest spell of rains is expected to help two major cash crops in the State, groundnut and cotton.

Among the crops, groundnut tops the list in sowing in Gujarat. Out of the 17.72 lakh ha under the crop last season, sowing has been completed in 17.55 lakh ha (98.5 per cent). Gujarat’s cotton contribution to Indian production has gone up from 17 per cent to 35 per cent between 2001-02 and 2007-08. In 2006-07, the State produced 92 lakh bales (of 170 kg each).

Cotton yield

Though the cotton production in Gujarat grew in real terms, due to the inclement weather in March-April 2008, cotton yield fell from the expected 125 lakh bales to around 100 lakh bales. Till date, cotton has been sown in 19.57 lakh ha, 86 per cent of the total 21.85 lakh ha that is estimated to be under cotton production this year.

In 2007-08, India produced about 315 lakh bales, while the second estimates put forth by the Union Ministry of Agriculture this month said the cotton production in the country is expected to be at 280 lakh bales. The rains have also eased the pressure of demand for electricity by agricultural sector by at least 1,000 MW.

Beginning July 21, the Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd (GUVNL), the nodal agency for power generation and distribution in the State, had announced cuts and load shedding in the industrial areas to help farmers meet power requirement to draw underground water due to lack of rains. The State Government has been targeting a 9 per cent agricultural growth this season and achieve Rs 37,000 crore in value terms, compared with Rs 34,000 crore it achieved last year.

During the last five years, Gujarat’s agricultural production in rupee terms has gone up from Rs 9,000 crore to about Rs 34,000 crore.

More Stories on : Cultivation | Climate & Weather | Gujarat

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