The Hindu Business Line : Heavy rains spur farming in Gujarat

With heavy and incessant rains lashing across many parts of Gujarat during the last two days, sowing has been completed in 87 per cent of the cultivable area and the State Government expects to reap a good harvest this year, official reports said.

Until a fortnight ago, the average rainfall in Gujarat was 30 per cent of its annual rains. With the latest spell of rains, it has doubled now with many districts receiving around 60 per cent of the average annual rains.

But the situation in most of the dams is yet to improve as they have only 40-45 per cent of water compared to their capacity.

The Sardar Sarovar dam is yet to receive water from Madhya Pradesh to generate its hydro-power capacity of the season.

According to reports, 26 of the 193 dams in Gujarat are now almost full, 12 are filled up to 90 per cent of their capacity, and five have received between 70 and 80 per cent water. As many as 87 of the dams have, however, received up to 30 per cent of water.

Surendranagar district in the Saurashtra region, hub of cotton, had received only 30 per cent of rainfall till two days ago.

However, widespread rains were reported during the last two days in this district as also the adjoining ones such as Rajkot and Patan, besides Jamnagar, Valsad and parts of Banaskantha, official sources told Business Line.

The fury of monsoon, particularly in south Gujarat, has claimed at least seven lives so far as many areas were inundated disrupting rail and road traffic in some areas.

But, on the farm front, the rains have been satisfactory.

There were no reports of any major damage so far to farms due to floods in some parts of the State.

More Stories on : Cultivation | Climate & Weather | Gujarat

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