Monsoon delayed, sowing very low, state releases contingency plan

Ahmedabad, 25 June, 2014

Compared to 26 lakh ha sowing by 23 June last year(2013), this year only 9.38 lakh ha area has witnessed sowing in Gujarat so far. This is the impact of delayed monsoon.

Sowing of crops(ha) in Gujarat
23 June(2013) and 23 June(2014)
Peddy – 28,100 – 1,000
Bajri- 15,200 – 2,500
Makai- 69,800 – zero
Tuver- 16,200 – 5,100
Mag – 6,800 – 800
Magfali – 10.54 lakh – 3.32 lakh
Tal – 33,300 – 3,500
Kapas – 11.25 lakh – 5.5 lakh
Other crops – 26.03 lakh – 9.38 lakh

So far monsoon has officially arrived only in the parts of South Gujarat(upto Surat) and southern Saurashtra. Ideally entire Gujarat should be covered by monsoon by 15 June. Here it is 25th of June, but monsoon has not covered even central Gujarat.

The weather department keeps changing its versions. Presently it says there’s no possibility of revival of monsoon till first week of July.

Meanwhile the Agriculture department of Government of Gujarat has released a contingency plan for crop production in Kharif(monsoon) sowing. Such plan is announced every year during monsoon, but it is advised to practice only in cases of delay of monsoon, unexpected dry spell during monsoon or heavy rainfall.

Contingency planning refer to mitigate any unexpected, unusual, unfavorable and hence unwanted accidental weather situation as well as Alnino line weather situation occurring at any time without prior knowledge before the crops are sown or even after the crop are sown. The contingency crop planning is proposed to mitigate such situation through the choice of appropriate crop and varieties, cropping systems or other necessary relevant farm practices.

Farmers will be advised to adopt contingency crop plan if monsoon continues to delay till second week of July.