Gujarat, which has seen the lowest acreage for the kharif crop in a decade this year due to the poor monsoon, is set to witness drastically decreased demand for fertilisers.

With a 75 per cent deficit in average rainfall this monsoon , Gujarat is expected to see a steep fall in production of cotton, groundnut, and even castor. “Only 60 per cent sowing has been done so far and the yield could be as low as 20 per cent, provided we are able to save the existing seeds (from drought), ” a Government official said here on Thursday.

In 2010-11, Gujarat had produced 110 lakh bales of cotton and 24 lakh tonnes of groundnut. Final production figures of 2011-12 have yet to be released . This year, until July 30, sowing for the cotton crop was done in nearly 22 lakh ha (80 per cent of last year’s area), groundnut in 11.32 lakh ha (71 per cent), paddy in 36.12 lakh ha (49 per cent) and bajra in 2 lakh ha (42 per cent).

The reduced sowing is taking a toll on the demand for fertilisers.

Mr Manoj Patel, CEO, Gujarat State Cooperative Marketing Federation Ltd , the apex body overseeing distribution of seeds and fertilisers, told Business Line that the demand for various classes of fertiliser has come down drastically to 1.40 lakh tonnes in July this year from 2.25 lakh tonnes in the same month last year. Similarly, in August , it is expected to be less than one lakh tonnes, as compared to two lakh tonnes in August 2011.

The decreased demand for fertilisers has resulted in piling up of stock and slowing of recoveries.

While the cotton and groundnut crop have suffered badly in the Kutch and Saurashtra regions, only castor sowed has some chance of surviving, he said.

Mr Patel said with hopes of rains reviving, Gujarat may yet have a chance to sow castor and guar in the remaining cultivable area, although these crops require either low or no fertiliser at all.

> virendra.pandit@thehindu.co.in

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