Rains hit major crops in south Gujarat

Heavy rains please some, disappoint most

Incessant rainfall and flood-like situation in south Gujarat during the first week of August have caused large-scale devastation to the agriculture sector.

While the loss to industries in south Gujarat is pegged at around Rs 350 crore, agriculture incurred losses of over Rs 150 crore.

Almost all majors crops including sugar, cotton, rice, tuver, soya corn, moong, adad and jowar have been affected.

"We have demanded a relief package of Rs 154 crore from the central government for losses at the sowing stage. However, overall damage to the agricultural sector could not be estimated so far," Bhupendersinh Chaudsama, minister for agriculture and co-operation, said.

Though crops in almost all the places in Surat district have been affected, losses are the highest in Olpad. Cotton crop in the taluka has been damaged. Crop losses in Olpad alone is expected to be over Rs six crore.

"Preliminary estimates by the Surat District Panchayat say the floods have resulted in losses of Rs 16 crore to the agricultural sector in Surat alone. We are conducting a detailed survey. Paddy, cotton and sugarcane are the main crops grown in Surat.

A total of 4,500 hectares of paddy crop amounting to a loss Rs 4.50 crore, 1,600 hectares of cotton crop amounting to a loss Rs 8.75 crore and 3,500 hectares of sugarcane crop amounting to a loss Rs 2.88 crore have been damaged. Tuver and soyabean crops have also been affected," said S J Solanki, deputy director of agriculture, Surat District Panchayat. Crops in Kamrej, Bardoli, Nizar, Choryasi, Palsana and Mahuva have also been affected.

"Sugar crop has been washed out and wheat and rice have also been affected. We are taking steps to preserve food grains and essential commodities and restore normalcy in distribution of food," said P N Patel, director, food and civil supplies department.