Unseasonal rains in parts of Saurashtra and central Gujarat since Thursday is posing a threat on crops including wheat and cotton. A larger part of the cotton sowing region falls in Saurashtra and parts of Central Gujarat, which is experiencing thunderstorm since Thursday.
The India Meteorological Department has predicted thunderstorm or possible rains over the weekend on most parts of Saurashtra, South and Central Gujarat.
Farmers expressed concern about climatic uncertainties. "Rains with heavy winds has damaged cotton crop in many parts of the Saurashtra region. Crop prospects are low now, as quality will drop and production will also reduce by at least 30-40 per cent from what was expected," said Alpesh Chovatiya, a farmer leader from Babra in Amreli district.
Chovatiya maintained that climatic extremities have damaged the crop. The latest rains will increase the moisture level in cotton and would therefore affect prices.
The ill-timed rain is feared to affect the prospects of rabi crops including wheat and chana (peas). However, the government has ruled-out any impact on the crops. "Most of the crops have already been harvested and stored in godowns. For rabi crop it is too early to make a guess of the impact of rains," informed an official at the state agriculture department.
The districts that are affected due to recent spell of rains and thunderstorm include Rajkot, Amreli, Devbhoomi Dwarka, Bhavnagar, Veraval, Surat, and Vadodara among others.