Current spell of rains a boon for farmers

MONSOON WATCH

Barring some damage to pulses and a few other crops due to persistent heavy downpour and floods in parts of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh, the ongoing spell of rains has largely been a boon for the farm sector in the country.

Sowing of almost all crops is in full swing in all states. The moisture stress on the early planted crops in the rainfed tracts of north-western and central India on account of a couple of weak phases of the monsoon in the past is reported to be over and the crops are now thriving.

However, agri experts are advising farmers to remain vigilant against pests and diseases that may pop up owing to humid conditions.

Thanks to heavy rainfall in the entire central belt "� right from the eastern to the western coast, the overall deficiency in the total monsoon rainfall, which was 14 per cent in the last week of July, has come down to below 7 per cent.

Besides, most of the dams are either full or nearly full, requiring release of excess water. In fact, this has worsened the flood situation in some cases.

The rains abated in Maharashtra and Gujarat today, but it may be only a short-lived respite. The National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting has predicted that after remaining subdued for about two days rainfall may intensify again in Gujarat, east Rajasthan, Marathwara and central Maharashtra.

A low pressure area currently prevails over west Madhya Pradesh and neighbourhood, which may cause widespread rainfall with isolated heavy rains in west Madhya Pradesh and east Rajasthan during the next two days.

Rainfall is expected to increase subsequently, with possibility of isolated heavy showers over the north Gujarat region from the afternoon of August 12.

This may also lead to fairly widespread rainfall with isolated heavy to very heavy downpour in Konkan and Goa (including Mumbai), coastal Karnataka, central Maharashtra and Gujarat. In fact, the monsoon is likely to remain active over the central and peninsular India next week as well.

Indeed, the fear of damage to pulses in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh has pushed up their prices in the futures market.

Urad has firmed up by about 5 per cent and other pulses between 2 and 2.5 per cent in the past few days for next month contracts.

Trade circles, however, do not anticipate much damage to sugarcane, soybean and cotton, though, they fear, further prolonging of the wet spell may deteriorate the quality of cotton, especially in the early sown fields.

However, agriculture experts do not fully share the apprehensions over pulses output. They feel the crop damage in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh may be offset by higher production in other parts.

Even in these states, yields of pulse crops may be relatively better in the areas not affected by floods due to good rains.

Moreover, some re-sowing with relatively shorter duration is also possible in many areas, if water drains out soon. For that, however, the authorities would have to ensure timely supply of necessary inputs, including relevant seeds.

In any case, the acreage sown to pulses in the current kharif thus far is about 10 per cent more than the last season's corresponding position.

The total area seeded with pulses such as arhar, urad, moong, kulthi, moth and others till August 4 was estimated by the agriculture ministry at 89.2 lakh hectares, against 81.1 lakh hectares till this date last year. The condition of the standing crops is stated to be good.

The sowing of oilseeds is, however, lagging as only 143.6 lakh hectares has been planted with these crops so far against 153.6 lakh hectares last year.

While the area under groundnut is short by some 20 per cent due to paucity of July rains in the major groundnut belt of Rayalseema, that under niger seed is only half of last year's due to belated onset of the monsoon in Chhattisgarh.

The relatively low ruling prices of oilseeds and the government's decision to keep the minimum support prices unchanged are also said to have served as disincentive for oilseed growers. The acreage under soybean and sunflower is higher than last year.

The total water storage in 76 major reservoirs was estimated at 74.43 billion cubic metres on August 4, about 7 per cent higher than the last year's corresponding level and 47 per cent above the long period average for this date. As many as 65 dams are over 80 per cent full.