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Even as kharif sowing progresses at a robust pace in Gujarat, covering about 33 per cent of the normal sowing area, pulses sowing is seen moving at a snail’s pace with farmers preferring long-duration crops of groundnut and cotton.
Per State agriculture department data, as on July 1, 2019, overall kharif sowing in the State was reported at 28,24,592 hectares, about 33 per cent of the three-year normal acreage of 84,76,895 hectares.
Sowing of groundnut and cotton crops saw a sharp jump at 991,884 hectares and 14,35,246 hectares, respectively. This covers about 63 per cent and 55 per cent of the normal sowing area for the crops, respectively.
Whereas in the case of pulses crops, including tur, moong, muth and urad, overall sowing stood at 36,170 hectares, about 6 per cent of the normal acreage.
Ramesh Bhoraniya, a farmer in Rajkot district, said that farmers preferred groundnut and cotton looking at the increased pre-monsoon rain activity after the Vayu cyclone. “Also, these crops fetched better prices for the farmers. Pulses, though they gave good returns last year, remain less preferred this time, because of increased monsoon activity. This has brightened the prospects for long-duration crops such as groundnut and cotton.”
“We have seen increased monsoon activity in the South Gujarat region. But it is still to rain in Saurashtra and North Gujarat. If it gets delayed beyond July 15 for good rains in these regions, there is some possibility that farmers may turn to pulses looking for shorter-duration crops,” added Bhoraniya.
Among other crops, sowing of cereal crops is reported at 102,081 hectares, about 7 per cent of the normal acreage.
Per the State Emergency Response Centre, Gujarat had received 127.4 mm rains as on Tuesday, which is about 15 per cent of the long-period average of 816 mm.
The Met department has predicted heavy to very heavy rains at isolated places in the South Gujarat region, in Valsad, Daman, Dadra and Nagar Haveli over the next three days.
It has also predicted heavy rains at isolated places in some districts of Saurashtra on Thursday.
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