Summary:
Though reports of sowing are still trickling in, ground reports till now show a fall in the area where sowing has taken place. PUNE: Agricultural department data has revealed that acreage of almost all crops in Maharashtra has significantly dropped because of the drought situation in the state as the rabi sowing season ended in January.Overall, area growing all rabi crops this season has plunged by a staggering 40% in comparison with the average area. “The season possibly saw no sowing on 23 lakh hectare area meant for rabi crops,” an official said.A recent agriculture ministry report revealed that sowing of wheat and pulses has taken place on less area in Maharashtra and a few other states. “Around 90% of farmers in our area did not take up sowing this time in the absence of any source of water to irrigate the crops,” he said. Rabi oil seeds and cereal grain witnessed the maximum fall..