Rabi crop sown across 47.55 lakh hectares in Gujarat

Gandhinagar: Farmers in Gujarat have sown a large number of rabi crops this season. The favorable seasonal rains and the record-breaking prices received by farmers for rabi crops last year have led to a significant increase in planting this year. Over the past three years, the average cultivated area for rabi crops in Gujarat has been 46.07 lakh hectares. However, this year, farmers have already planted rabi crops in 47.55 lakh hectares.

Agriculture Minister Raghavji Patel stated that there is still a possibility of an increase in the number of crops being planted, as rabi crops are still being sown in some areas of the state.

The agriculture minister further stated that the state’s contribution to India’s total wheat production is crucial. Wheat sowing in Gujarat reaches its peak during the rabi season every year. Following this trend, Gujarat has again planted the highest amount of wheat this year. So far, 13.42 lakh hectares of wheat have been planted in the state, which is 109 percent of last year’s sowing. Additionally, maize has been planted in 1.32 lakh hectares, which is 118.92 percent compared to last year.

The minister further mentioned that gram (chickpea) has also been sown in the state as part of pulse crops. Last year, about 6.29 lakh hectares of chickpeas were planted, while this year, 8.39 lakh hectares have been planted, marking a 133.38 percent increase in chickpea cultivation compared to last year. Similarly, cumin has been sown in 4.74 lakh hectares, and telebia crops in a total area of 2.57 lakh hectares.

Potatoes and onions have also been extensively planted during the current rabi season in Gujarat. Last year, onions were planted in 69 thousand hectares. This year, the onion crop has been planted in 92 thousand hectares, which is 133.33 percent of last year’s sowing. Similarly, potato cultivation was recorded in around 1.35 lakh hectares last year, while this year, potato cultivation has been recorded in 1.56 lakh hectares, a 115.55 percent increase compared to last year, the minister added.

The sowing of agricultural crops this rabi season has been satisfactory, and the overall crop condition is good across the state, the minister mentioned.

It is also worth noting that in the districts of the Saurashtra region, a total of 19.88 lakh hectares have been sown with rabi crops. Among these, chickpeas have been cultivated in 6.17 lakh hectares, the highest recorded in the region. Additionally, 1.93 lakh hectares in Kutch, 12.96 lakh hectares in North Gujarat, 9.16 lakh hectares in Central Gujarat, and 3.61 lakh hectares in South Gujarat have been recorded for rabi crop sowing. DeshGujarat