Despite onset of monsoon rains’ getting delayed this year, Gujarat has caught up with sowing and its annual targets are expected to remain unaffected this kharif season.
By July-end, the state had, on an average, received 40% of its total annual rainfall and sowing had been completed in 62% of land cultivable for kharif crops, official sources said on Friday.
As against the total sowing area of 88 lakh hectare (ha) for kharif crops in 2013, sowing has been completed in 53.48 lakh ha until July-end, while rains are expected to drench the state for another month and a half.
Official sources said while cotton was sown only in six lakh ha until July 15, the latest spell of rains increased sowing to cover almost four times the area, to 24 lakh ha, within two weeks. Similarly, groundnut sowing tripled from four lakh ha to 12 lakh ha in the last two weeks.
By the end of this monsoon season, Gujarat is expected to catch up with its near normal sowing activity in nearly 86 lakh ha under kharif crops.
On a three-year average, Gujarat’s sowing for kharif crops was in 86.80 lakh ha, against which last year’s kharif area of 88 lakh ha. This year, despite delayed rains, the state has succeeded in completing sowing in 53.48 lakh ha in July itself.
Although rains came almost a month behind schedule, the Sardar Sarovar reservoir filled up to 120.93 meters until Thursday due to heavy rains in its catchment areas of neighbouring Madhya Pradesh. Also, over 20 reservoirs across Gujarat now have 2.60 lakh meter cubic feet of water, while 40,000 cusecs of water is generating hydro-electricity at Sardar Sarovar dam on the Narmada river in Bharuch district.
Only 26 talukas have recorded less than five inches (125 mms) of rainfall. On an average, reservoirs now have stored water to the extent of 46% of their capacity, thus warding off the problem of drinking water.