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After prolonged dry spells in July and August, a resurgent monsoon this month is expected to help farmers during the Rabi season.
Deficit rainfall is likely to take its toll on Kharif foodgrains (rice, pulses and coarse cereals) output which the Agriculture Ministry expects will contract by 2 per cent to 124.05 million tonnes (mt) this year, according to its early estimates released last week.
As of Monday, the rainfall deficit has narrowed to 14 per cent after showers across East and North-East India.
The early monsoon withdrawal appears to have slowed with low pressure systems moving toward the North bringing more moisture to parts of Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh over the weekend. Parched areas of Maharashtra also received much needed precipitation, while Gujarat’s Saurashtra and Kutch areas recorded steady rainfall.
The South Peninsula also received significant rainfall in the first two weeks of September. This helped narrow the deficit to 14 per cent from a late-August high of 22 per cent.
“The resurgence will improve soil moisture in these areas. Even if Kharif yields fall due to less rain during the monsoon, Rabi prospects appear to be good. Overall, food inflation is unlikely to worsen,” said an Agriculture Ministry official.
According to India Meteorological Department data, 16 out of 36 sub-stations have reported deficient rainfall between June 1 and September 21. Eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Marathwada and the Konkan coast are largely rain-fed and have been hit the hardest.
The normal area during the Rabi season is 61.43 million hectares and important crops grown include wheat, pulses like chickpea (chana) and gram, mustard and barley. The season accounts for 51 per cent of the country’s foodgrain output.
“Rainfall has been forecast for another 10 days. So, this will help crops in the final flowering stage. Moisture retention in the soil and charged reservoir levels is a positive sign for Rabi,” said a senior official from Indian Agricultural Research Institute. Kharif crop sowing, of which 97 per cent has been completed, will end this month.
Rabi conference The two-day annual ‘Rabi Conference’, which reviews the performance of the preceding Kharif and strategises about the Rabi, will be held here from Tuesday. The conference will see Central and State agriculture officers engaging on preparedness for the season.
Six topics, including the promotion of horticulture and organic farming, more cultivation of pulses and oilseeds in rice fallows, and ways to tackle agrarian crisis, will be focused on.
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