Surplus rains this year has resulted in Kharif sowing to cross 85 lakh hectare in Gujarat, almost touching 86 lakh hectare according to a state government report. Government officials and experts pointed out that looking at the condition of the crop, a bumper harvest is expected in a number of crops including cotton and groundnut, the main crops of the state. Excess rains, coupled with water storage in dams has also set a stage for conducive sowing in winter and summer seasons. Till Wednesday morning, the state has received 1,029 mm rains, which is 26 per cent more than the 30-year average of 816 mm rainfall. Of the 251 talukas, 80 have received rains in excess of 1,000 mm, 150 witnessed 501 mm – 1,000 mm rains and rest 21 recorded 251-500 mm rains. Thus, it is a combination of heavy and evenly spread rains, which has resulted in high Kharif sowing this year. Cotton is sown over 26.66 lakh hectare, followed by groundnut (15.52 lakh hectare), fodder (12.76 lakh hectare), paddy (8.48 lakh hectare) and vegetables (2.27 lakh hectare). Only in pulses’ case, the overall acreage is restricted to 4.05 lakh hectare compared to a 3-year average of 5.79 lakh hectare. “This is due to a large delay in spell after the initial rains in June. Farmers had sown pulses, but as the next spell of rains delayed by about six weeks, farmers shifted to other crops like castor,” said a senior official in state director of agriculture. Moreover, the prices of pulses had remained subdued last year, as a result of which farmers stayed away from them, opined the officer. Castor recorded a jump to over 7.02 lakh hectare, compared to 5.64 lakh hectare. BK Kikani, former vice-chancellor of Junagadh Agriculture University, is extremely pleased with the current state of affairs. “The condition of crops is excellent. This year there shouldn’t be any problem with agricultural production. There are no reports of widespread damage to crops on account of diseases. Heavy rains had a little negative impact but the overall impact is positive,” Kikani told DNA. He said that this year is a rare occasion in about a decade in terms of rains and resulting Kharif sowing. In fact, the past two years witnessed erratic rains leading to average production. Most importantly, farmers had complained of not getting remunerative prices. “After conducive rains and healthy crop scenario, the only concern among the farmers is what prices they will get for their crops. The government should somehow ensure that market prices are remunerative,” he said. Kikani feels that widespread and heavy rains have also left moisture in the farms and have filled abundance water in dams and check-dam. “This will ensure that farmers will have sufficient water for not only winter cropping but a significant part of summer sowing as well,” he told DNA.

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