Gandhinagar: As a result of widespread rains in Gujarat this year, farmers in the state have sown a large area under kharif crops. The state has so far received more than 85 percent of the season’s total average rainfall. Correspondingly, 94 percent of the targeted area, i.e., more than 81 lakh hectares, has been sown so far.

Due to timely and sufficient rains, a significant increase in the area under various crops has been observed this year. With the rainfall intensity remaining steady, there is a strong possibility that the total sown area in the state could exceed 100 percent in the next 15 days, the Gujarat government said in an official statement.

According to a report from the Office of the Director of Agriculture, the timely arrival of rains has enabled good sowing of kharif crops in most parts of the state this year. Compared to the average sowing of the last three years, sowing has been completed on more than 81 lakh hectares out of the total 85 lakh hectares, i.e., over 94 percent of the area targeted this year.

Gujarat continues to lead the country in groundnut and cotton production. Every year, the state produces the largest quantities of these crops during the kharif season. This year, too, groundnuts and cotton have been sown in very large areas. So far, farmers have planted groundnuts on more than 21.88 lakh hectares, followed by cotton on more than 20.71 lakh hectares.

Groundnut cultivation in Gujarat has been increasing steadily each year. On average, groundnuts are sown on 17.50 lakh hectares in the state. By the same period last year, farmers had planted groundnuts on 19.10 lakh hectares. This year, record-breaking groundnut sowing has been achieved during the kharif season. So far, 125 percent of the normal area under groundnut has been sown, and this figure is expected to increase further.

Oilseed crops, including groundnut, were sown on 27.69 lakh hectares by this period last year. So far this year, oilseed crops have been sown on 30.46 lakh hectares. In addition, sowing of cereals has been completed on more than 13.57 lakh hectares, pulses on more than 4.13 lakh hectares, fodder on more than 8.92 lakh hectares, and vegetables on more than 2.49 lakh hectares.

It is noteworthy that this year, the sowing of crops such as groundnut, tur, soybean, paddy, and moong has exceeded 100 percent compared to the average sowing of the last three years. Additionally, the sowing of millet, maize, and vegetables has crossed 90 percent. DeshGujarat