Pre-monsoon rain hits cotton sowing, benefits sugarcane

The ongoing pre-monsoon rains, which are in excess of normal, are having a mixed impact on agriculture, damaging standing crops but also helping preparation of farms for the upcoming 'kharif' season. These rains delayed sowing of cotton in north India, government reports said Monday.

The kharif is sown from late May-early June. Its harvest starts September.

"These rains are both a boon and a bane with their impact varying from region-to-region and crop-to-crop," said B B Singh, a senior scientist with Indian Agricultural Research Institute. A prolonged dry spell kills many insects and pests, which otherwise damage standing and to-be-sown crops, he said.

However, the rains have added the much-needed moisture to the soil, which will prove highly beneficial when paddy and oilseeds are planted, he added.

Haryana: These pre-monsoon rains has particularly hit Haryana damaging the standing crop and delayed sowing of the next crop. According to official assessment, the state's wheat yield is likely to be lower than previous estimates.

Frequent showers have adversely affected threshing of wheat mainly in southwestern parts of the state where late sowing also leads to late harvest. Rains have also led to crust formation in fields, delaying cotton sowing.

Indian Council of Agricultural Research has issued an advisory that field preparation for fresh sugarcane planting should be taken up immediately for taking full advantage of rains received recently in Haryana and Punjab.

Uttranchal: In Uttranchal, field preparation is currently on for millet, maize and vegetables. Wheat is still being harvested. Spring rice has been sown. Mustard is in maturity stage and has suffered from a mild infestation of aphid pest.

Rajasthan: Pre-monsoon rains and hailstorms have also hit standing crops in Rajasthan. Pods are developing in green gram and groundnut crops in the state.

Kerala: Growth of crops like banana, vanilla, areca nut and black pepper is progressing well in Kerala.

Areca nut, vanilla and rain fed banana crops are in flowering, maturity and vegetative stage respectively. Cashew and nutmeg are being harvested. Mild infestation of pseudo stem borer insect on banana crop has been reported in the central zone.

West Bengal: Sowing of summer rice and jute planting has begun in West Bengal. Boro rice is in maturity stage.

Uttar Pradesh: In central Uttar Pradesh, moderate infestation of red pumpkin beetle on cucurbits has been observed.