97% of Kharif sowing complete in Gujarat; Groundnut, Tur cultivation crosses 125% of normal area

Gandhinagar: Thanks to abundant rainfall this year, which has exceeded the normal seasonal average by over 7%, Gujarat farmers have sown a large area under Kharif crops. As of now, the state has received more than 107% of the season’s average rainfall. Consequently, over 83 lakh hectares have been sown so far, covering 97% of the targeted area based on the three-year average.

According to the Office of the Director of Agriculture, the timely arrival of rains has facilitated healthy sowing across most parts of the state. Compared to the average sowing over the past three years, more than 83 lakh hectares out of the total 85 lakh hectares have been planted.

Gujarat continues to dominate the country in groundnut and cotton production, traditionally registering the highest sowing of these crops during the Kharif season. This year, groundnuts have been sown on over 22 lakh hectares, followed by cotton on more than 20.8 lakh hectares.

Groundnut cultivation in the state has shown steady growth, with the average sowing area around 17.5 lakh hectares. Last year, groundnuts were sown on 19.1 lakh hectares by this period. This year, however, sowing has reached nearly 126% of the normal area, setting a new record.

Overall, oilseed crops, including groundnuts, have seen a cumulative increase in sowing area from 28.07 lakh hectares last year to 31.44 lakh hectares this year. In addition, cereals have been sown on over 13.76 lakh hectares, pulses on more than 4.41 lakh hectares, fodder on over 9.33 lakh hectares, and vegetables on more than 2.55 lakh hectares.

Notably, the sowing of crops such as groundnut, tur, soybean, mung, and paddy has surpassed 100% of the average sown area over the last three years. Meanwhile, the sowing of bajra, maize, urad, and vegetables has exceeded 90%. DeshGujarat