Gujarat '07-'08 Rabi crop could be 11.2 mn t

Inspired by the good Kharif season this year, the government of Gujarat has set an ambitious target for this Rabi season.

The state's farm production is projected to be 11.12 million MT during Rabi 2007-08 and the hot season before the Kharif. The state is likely to have an additional 1.59 million MT farm produce this Rabi against the last year's 9.6 million MT output.

"We had a good monsoon this year and a good Kharif crop. We expect the good rains will have a positive effect on the Rabi season too. As per our Rabi -2007-08 projections the state is likely to have 11.2 million MT of total farm produce including food grains, oilseeds, sugarcane and horticulture crops. Last year the Rabi farm production stood at 96.04 lakh MT so this year we will have an add itional output of 15.92 lakh MT," said a senior official of Agriculture and Co-operation Department, Government of Gujarat.

As per the figures provided by the agriculture department total production of 2007-08 Rabi food grain is likely to be 44.70 lakh MT which is an increase of 16.29 per cent against the last year's output of 3.84 million MT. This include 35.62 lakh MT wheat, 1.37 lakh MT rice, 4.20 bajra, 40,000 MT jowar, 245,000 MT gram, 66,000 MT other cereals and pulses.

"This Rabi season's oilseed production is likely to be around 9.66 lakh MT, which is an increase of around 8.66 per cent over the last year's 8.89 lakh MT. It includes 5.04 lakh MT rapeseedômustard and hot weather groundnut production of 4.62 lakh MT. This figure is likely to shrink a bit as there is a considerable decrease projected in the rapeseed area because of expanding wheat area. The rapeseed production might be 5 to 7 less than projected," he said.

"Sugarcane output is likely to go down because of the excess output last season. This Rabi the output will be around 14.25 lakh MT down by 8.83 per cent from the last year's 15.63 lakh MT. The farmers of South Gujarat belt are likely to shift towards other horticulture crops this year from sugarcane. The tobacco output will decrease by 24.24 per cent to stand at 1.50 lakh MT against the last year's 1.98 lakh MT. Spices production of the state is projected to stand around 5.43 lakh MT against the 4.70 lakh MT of last Rabi. The horticulture crops will be the second largest crop after wheat. The state is likely to produce 36.42 lakh MT against the last year's crop of 26.40 lakh MT," the official said.

He added that the state's strategy to achieve the projected target will be to increase the area and the productivity through proper guidance.

"Our strategy will be to bring more area under food grain crops, to increase productivity by ensuring 100 per cent seed treatment and efficient use of available irrigation facilities. We will advise farmers on the use of hybrid and improved seed, balance use of fertilizers, promotion of biotechnology and organic farming and to adopt micro irrigation."