 "Heat wave delays kharif sowing")
A persisting heat wave, along with a delayed monsoon is set to delay the sowing of kharif (winter) crops in the country, particularly paddy. Farmers have been advised to sow shorter-duration rice varieties.
The heat has also impacted vegetable prices. At Delhi's Azadpur Mandi, that of bitter gourd is up over a month from Rs 1,185 a quintal to Rs 1,344 a qtl, of coriander from Rs 1,525 a qtl to Rs 2,438 a qtl and of onion from Rs 1,363 a qtl to Rs 1,419 a qtl, by government data.The sowing time of winter (kharif) rice is June-July and it is harvested in November-December.
ALSO READ: Chicken prices surge to record as heat wave kills millions of birds
“This year, there might be a delay in sowing of kharif crops like rice and maize due to monsoon delay. Also, this year, some of the vegetable crops have wilted due to extreme weather conditions,” said Pranab Chatterjee, professor at Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya here.
“In a few places in Punjab, some sowing had taken place but it is unlikely to sustain in these heat conditions,” said R Sundaresan, executive director, All India Rice Exporters Association
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The kharif crop is sown with the onset of monsoon, beginning the first week of June. The major ones in that season are paddy, bajra, jowar, groundnut, soyabean, sugarcane and maize.
“In the absence of canal irrigation, we had to depend on pump irrigation. However, due to scarcity of water, instead of six irrigation cycles, we could only afford two cycles due to high diesel prices,” said Shankar Vaghela, chairman, Pragatisheel Kisan Union, Sitamarhi.
The heat wave has sent chicken prices soaring, particularly in the eastern and southern markets. In Bengal, Odisha, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra, these have risen by nearly Rs 20 a kg in the past week. According to traders, there has been nearly 25% reduction in chicken production in the last one week due to high mortality rate of chickens.
The heat has also impacted vegetable prices. At Delhi's Azadpur Mandi, that of bitter gourd is up over a month from Rs 1,185 a quintal to Rs 1,344 a qtl, of coriander from Rs 1,525 a qtl to Rs 2,438 a qtl and of onion from Rs 1,363 a qtl to Rs 1,419 a qtl, by government data.The sowing time of winter (kharif) rice is June-July and it is harvested in November-December.
ALSO READ: Chicken prices surge to record as heat wave kills millions of birds
“This year, there might be a delay in sowing of kharif crops like rice and maize due to monsoon delay. Also, this year, some of the vegetable crops have wilted due to extreme weather conditions,” said Pranab Chatterjee, professor at Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya here.
“In a few places in Punjab, some sowing had taken place but it is unlikely to sustain in these heat conditions,” said R Sundaresan, executive director, All India Rice Exporters Association
ALSO READ: States not in favour of uniform tax on wheat, rice: Food Ministry
The kharif crop is sown with the onset of monsoon, beginning the first week of June. The major ones in that season are paddy, bajra, jowar, groundnut, soyabean, sugarcane and maize.
“In the absence of canal irrigation, we had to depend on pump irrigation. However, due to scarcity of water, instead of six irrigation cycles, we could only afford two cycles due to high diesel prices,” said Shankar Vaghela, chairman, Pragatisheel Kisan Union, Sitamarhi.
The heat wave has sent chicken prices soaring, particularly in the eastern and southern markets. In Bengal, Odisha, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra, these have risen by nearly Rs 20 a kg in the past week. According to traders, there has been nearly 25% reduction in chicken production in the last one week due to high mortality rate of chickens.