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Early and widespread monsoon across Gujarat has boosted sowing activity in the state. Notably, groundnut sowing in the Saurashtra region till June 17, 2013 has more than doubled this year as compared to same period last year.
Also, cotton sowing has reported over 100 per cent growth in Gujarat. According to agriculture department sources timely rain has encouraged the farmers, which led to good sowing in the initial days.
As per the state agriculture department data, as on June 17 sowing has been done on 9,99,000 hectares as against 4,46,100 hectares during same period last year, showing an impressive jump of 124 per cent. Farmers are most active in groundnut and cotton crops for this kharif season.
"The sowing trend is very good so far, as monsoon is excellent this time mainly in Saurashtra region, which was almost dry in last monsoon season. Early sowing was done in those areas where water is available for irrigation. However, it is early to comment further as it is just a beginning," said J H Suthar, deputy director of agriculture, department of agriculture Gujarat.
As per the statistics provided by the directorate of agriculture, Government of Gujarat, total area covered under the groundnut crops was registered at 3,99,200 hectares as on June 17, 2013, about 218 per cent higher from 1,25,400 hectares recorded during same period last year.
Similarly, 5,02,000 hectares has been covered under cotton crop so far, up by 107 per cent from 2,43,000 hectares during same period last year.
"Main reason of good sowing progress in the state is timely rain. Generally monsoon starts from 15th June every year but this time it has begun from first week of the June. Monsoon factor encourages farmers for early sowing", said C J Dangaria, research director of Junagadh Agriculture University (JAU).
According to Dangaria, this time groundnut sowing is likely to increase in Saurashtra by 20-25 per cent. JAU noted higher seeds demand for groundnut. Moreover crop rotation is also one of the reasons for more sowing in groundnut crop.
The monsoon has also helped paddy crops in south Gujarat. According to state agriculture department data, area covered under paddy has touched 1500 hectares till June 17, whereas the same was barely 400 hectares during the same time last year.
"It is early to comment on the growth in sowing since we have to consider the monsoon in the month of July. However, the initial days have shown encouraging rainfall," said an agriculture research faculty at Anand Agriculture University.
"In the south Gujarat, the recent spell of monsoon has helped mostly the paddy farmers. We do not see much change in the crop pattern but the sowing has started on a strong note," said M K Arvadia, dean, faculty of agriculture, Navsari Agriculture University.
The union agriculture ministry data showed that paddy had been sown in 0.79 million hectares till June 13, about 1.25 per cent less than last year.
Besides cotton and groundnut crop, sesame sowing stood at 6,100 hectares, against 1,200 hectares last year, pulses sowing too gained to 7,700 hectares this year from 1,300 hectares of last year.
