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Average rain deficit declined to 23 per cent in Gujarat and 95 per cent of the sowing completed with the State receiving copious rains last week.
According to the latest statistics from the State Agriculture Department, against the 86.80 lakh hectares of average normal sowing acreage over the last three years, sowing has been completed on 82.58 lakh hectares.
The Saurashtra and Kutch regions of Gujarat have already received nearly 95 per cent of their average normal annual rainfall while other parts of the state have received 75 per cent.
Since August 31, Kutch received 22 per cent of its total annual rains. The weather department has predicted a fresh spell of downpour from September 10, which is expected to wipe out water deficit this year. In fact, September is expected to see more rains than previous months.
Taking advantage of delayed but bountiful rains, farmers have sown cotton on 30 lakh hectares (lh) against last year’s 26.87 lh, groundnut on 12.24 lh (16.60 lh), paddy on 7.53 lh (7.85 lh), maize on 3.16 lh (3.42 lh), tur on 2.11 lh (2.24 lh), guarseed on 2.84 lh (4.69 lh) and vegetables on 1.82 lh (1.97 lh).
Delayed rains also warded off fears of fodder shortage for cattle as fodder acreage has increased from 9.03 lh to 10.21 lh so far.
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