Summary:
“Rainfall during the monsoon’s withdrawal is essential for retaining moisture in the soil and crucial for sowing. The deficiency may reduce in the coming months,” Palghadmal added.Another senior agriculture officer said no more sowing is possible considering shortage of water across the district. “Usually, after the sugar cane crushing, many farmers cultivate wheat. Pune: A deficit rainfall during the withdrawal phase of the monsoon in 2018 has impacted the sowing of rabi crops like jowar, wheat and gram in Pune district.The retreating southwest monsoon towards the end of September or early October brings rainfall suited for rabi crops in the state.Officials in IMD’s agri-met division said a prolonged dry spell during the withdrawal phase this season has affected sowing. Traders will import them from other states and consumers will have to pay extra,” an official said.Official data for last year indicate that jowar was sown on 1, 56,000 hectares but this year it has been reduced to 93,000.The sowing area of wheat has reduced to 22,548 hectare from 47,971 hectare, this year..