Farmers of south Gujarat have some reason to cheer. The weather department has predicted heavy rains in parts of the region on Saturday and Sunday. Rains are also expected in parts of east-central Gujarat, north Gujarat and Saurashtra. It has been about a month since many parts of the state have not received rains. If showers continue for the next few days, it could give a fresh lease of life to sowing, say farmers. According to the India Meteorological Department, there will be heavy rains during the weekend at isolated places in the districts of Daman, Dadra Nagar Haveli, Valsad, Navsari, Narmada, Chhota Udepur. Jayesh Patel, president of Khedut Samaj – Gujarat, said that contrary to popular perception, even south Gujarat is rain-deficient. "Farmers in this region have cultivated paddy, the conventional crop. But fields are still devoid of water. If this forecast proves true, then it will be a big relief for farmers. Even the Ukai dam is short of water. The present level is about 278 feet, which is inadequate. It needs to be 320-325 feet to enable the release of water for irrigation. So rainfall is also needed in the catchment of Tapi river," said Patel. ‘BOOST TO SOWING’ If rains continue for next few days, it will give a fresh lease of life to sowing, say farmers IMD has also predicted moderate to light showers in all the districts of central Gujarat For the next five days, as per IMD, light to moderate rain or thundershowers are likely at a few places in all the districts of central Gujarat region – Anand, Panchmahal, Kheda, Dahod, Mahisagar, Ahmedabad as well as Aravalli in north Gujarat as well as districts of Saurashtra-Kutch namely Rajkot, Amreli, Bhavnagar, Botad, Surendranagar, Kutch. However, dry weather is expected in the remaining districts of North Gujarat region, Saurashtra and in Diu, said IMD. The weatherman said that the rainfall bearing upper air cyclonic circulation over south-west Rajasthan and neighbouring areas has weakened, while another upper air cyclonic circulation lies over east-central Arabian Sea, off the coast of Maharashtra, which can bring rains in parts of south Gujarat and Saurashtra.

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