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ReturnDelayed monsoon may affect India kharif sowing in K’taka, MP, WB & R’than
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PublishDate：
2005-08-05 13:40:00
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MUMBAI: Even as Maharashtra recovers from a deluge, many states like Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, UP, West Bengal and Rajasthan will have to battle with the grim reality of a delayed south-west monsoon which may adversely affect the sowing of kharif crops, including oilseeds and paddy. Unless the sowing picks up in the next fortnight, prices of many essential commodities like rice, sunflower oil and castor oil may rise in the winter months.
Oilseeds sowing has suffered the most, despite a government prediction of a normal year. Close to 60% area of the usual 150 lakh hectares have been cultivated till third week of July. The pattern of sowing in different states suggests that irrigated areas are the worst affected than rain fed areas, as river and distributaries went dry due little rainfall till mid July. Among the oilseeds, only soyabean sowing has been close to the average acreage of half a million hectares, said D P Khandelia, president, Solvent Extractor Association.
Earlier it was predicted that a late monsoon would not affect the crop production. However, majority of the states sowing kharif crops are hit due to late arrival of monsoon. In West Bengal paddy cultivation is down to only 15% of a normal year. Paddy (aman variety) is usually grown in 45 lakh hectares in the state.
In Karnataka too, sowing of all kharif crops including cereals, pulses, foodgrains and oilseeds have fallen below the desired acreage level. Among the cereals, rice and ragi sowing have suffered, falling short by almost 70% of the target till the last week of July.
Normal coverage till the third week of July is 10 lakh hectares short at 40 lakh hectares. In western India, states like Madhya Pradesh and Maharastra received less rainfall and sowing was reported to be sporadic. Traditional soyabean growing areas have received less water - irrigated or rain.
However, northern states have reported a steady progress. Despite an erratic monsoon, the government of India is still upbeat. The government has recently revised its prediction for oilseeds, up from 25.1 to 26.1 million tonnes. Last year the trade estimated the total crop at only 22 mn tonnes.
According to market sources most of the crops sown in different states are at germination and vegetative stages. Early sown crops like sesame, cowpea and blackgrum are at pod development stages in many southern states. Even in some places crops like greengram has been harvested well.
Affected states can still recover if a sustained rainfall is recorded till the end of August. Another way to plan a regular harvest - despite a short rainfall - is to sow ‘short period-high yield’ crops, said a senior official from IMD Agrimet. Cost of sowing these crops is higher than their regular varieties.
Unless the government assures a higher minimum support price many farmers may not take the risk. Till date there has been no report of any pesticide attack on any crops. Government agencies like IFFCO are advising the farmers to use bio pesticides. Plant protection chemicals have also been provided to the farmers.
Oilseeds sowing has suffered the most, despite a government prediction of a normal year. Close to 60% area of the usual 150 lakh hectares have been cultivated till third week of July. The pattern of sowing in different states suggests that irrigated areas are the worst affected than rain fed areas, as river and distributaries went dry due little rainfall till mid July. Among the oilseeds, only soyabean sowing has been close to the average acreage of half a million hectares, said D P Khandelia, president, Solvent Extractor Association.
Earlier it was predicted that a late monsoon would not affect the crop production. However, majority of the states sowing kharif crops are hit due to late arrival of monsoon. In West Bengal paddy cultivation is down to only 15% of a normal year. Paddy (aman variety) is usually grown in 45 lakh hectares in the state.
In Karnataka too, sowing of all kharif crops including cereals, pulses, foodgrains and oilseeds have fallen below the desired acreage level. Among the cereals, rice and ragi sowing have suffered, falling short by almost 70% of the target till the last week of July.
Normal coverage till the third week of July is 10 lakh hectares short at 40 lakh hectares. In western India, states like Madhya Pradesh and Maharastra received less rainfall and sowing was reported to be sporadic. Traditional soyabean growing areas have received less water - irrigated or rain.
However, northern states have reported a steady progress. Despite an erratic monsoon, the government of India is still upbeat. The government has recently revised its prediction for oilseeds, up from 25.1 to 26.1 million tonnes. Last year the trade estimated the total crop at only 22 mn tonnes.
According to market sources most of the crops sown in different states are at germination and vegetative stages. Early sown crops like sesame, cowpea and blackgrum are at pod development stages in many southern states. Even in some places crops like greengram has been harvested well.
Affected states can still recover if a sustained rainfall is recorded till the end of August. Another way to plan a regular harvest - despite a short rainfall - is to sow ‘short period-high yield’ crops, said a senior official from IMD Agrimet. Cost of sowing these crops is higher than their regular varieties.
Unless the government assures a higher minimum support price many farmers may not take the risk. Till date there has been no report of any pesticide attack on any crops. Government agencies like IFFCO are advising the farmers to use bio pesticides. Plant protection chemicals have also been provided to the farmers.
