Friday's rain pours hope for Gujarat farmers

  • | Saturday | 18th August, 2018

The rains on Friday poured a major relief for farmers, especially those sowing kharif across Gujarat. However, it does not take care of sowing damaged to due flooding and shortage of water. He informed that while regions of east and central Gujarat received heavy rains on Friday, rains have been light or moderate in Saurashtra. Reports of damage to cotton in Saurashtra region and groundnut in north Gujarat have started pouring in due to inadequate rains. It will raise the level of water in the dam by a couple of feet," said Jayesh Patel, president of Gujarat Khedut Samaj said.

The rains on Friday poured a major relief for farmers, especially those sowing kharif across Gujarat. The rains that lashed the state after 21 days also brought fresh water into the dams at the catchment areas in Narmada and Tapi rivers. According to a recent weekly report of the state agriculture department, the state witnessed sowing of 72.28 lakh hectare, which is about 84% of the seasonal average of over 85 lakh hectare. However, it does not take care of sowing damaged to due flooding and shortage of water. Whatever was left was also at a risk of damage. Reports of damage to cotton in Saurashtra region and groundnut in north Gujarat have started pouring in due to inadequate rains. Nikul Patel of Dadhaliya – Umedpur village of Arvalli district said that the plants of groundnut are turning yellowish. Moreover, sowing was also infected by 'Dor' insects, which eats away the roots of the crop. Farmers are trying to save the crop by spraying more insecticides. "There was a fear that about 50% of the sowing getting damaged. This spell of rains is a major relief for farmers. We hope that rains continue for next couple of days," said Patel. It has been a roller-coaster ride for farmers in the state this year. Farmers sowed seeds initially, but it failed because of delayed onset. "After the widespread rains in mid-July, farmers had sown seeds. With inadequate water, these sowing was also getting damaged," said Chetan Gadhiya, a leading farmer in Rajkot district. He informed that while regions of east and central Gujarat received heavy rains on Friday, rains have been light or moderate in Saurashtra. The latest spell has also brought fresh water into the dams. "There are reports of inflow of 1.9 lakh cusecs of water in Tapi. It will raise the level of water in the dam by a couple of feet," said Jayesh Patel, president of Gujarat Khedut Samaj said. Dam water is crucial for winter sowing in the region.

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