`From what`s trending, food grain prices may rise`

  • | Monday | 30th June, 2014

Till June 27, only 3% pulses and 5% cereals of the total target were brought under acreage. As per the data released by the agriculture department, against the target of 1,47,000 hectares of paddy only 18,500 hectares (13%) have been sown so far. Similarly, only 15,000 hectares jowar is used for sowing against the target of 6,40,000 hectares till June 27.

JAIPUR: Amid reports of an upcoming weak monsoon, the sowing report of Kharif crop in the state has added to the troubles of the government and consumers. Till June 27, only 3% pulses and 5% cereals of the total target were brought under acreage. If the trend continues, prices of both the food grains will rise.

As per the data released by the agriculture department, against the target of 1,47,000 hectares of paddy only 18,500 hectares (13%) have been sown so far. Similarly, only 15,000 hectares jowar is used for sowing against the target of 6,40,000 hectares till June 27. Situations of maize and millets are even worse.

In both categories, almost negligible sowing has taken place fueling apprehensions of sharp rise in their prices. Maize for which agriculture department targeted 11,40,000 hectares only 800 hectares have been cultivated yet. For millet, the sowing is yet to begin.

Meanwhile, pulses which remained a major force driving inflation in the country, has witnessed a sharp decline in cultivation so far. Moong and moth, which are considered low water intensive crops, have registered only 2% and 3% sowing against the target this season. For urad, farmers are not ready to bet as its sowing remains 0%.

When it comes to oilseeds, apart from groundnut, all other crops like sesamum, soyabean and caster seed have not shown at all. By this time last year the total area under acreage was about 15-25% against the target. "Delay in monsoon has reduced sowing area in the state.

Farmers are ready to cultivate their crops but even for that they need at least one good rain spell. If situation persists we will urge them and provide seeds for low water intensive crops like mustard, gram, castor, moong and moth," said a senior official of the department. According to experts, the situation looks grim.

They claim that good monsoon in the past three years has encourages many farmers to grow water intense crops. But now they will have to suffer losses as huge investments have already been made in buying seeds and fertilizers. "Our state receives relatively low rainfall and so farming is not our forte.

But we have seen that in past 3-4 years there has been good rainfall. This led to spurt in sowing of sugarcane and even paddy in parts of Kota and Ganganagar. If there is no rainfall or delay in monsoon these farmers will incur heavy losses," said Nagendra Khangarot, agriculture expert.

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