Fresh spell of rains over the parts of Gujarat has helped lift kharif sowing in the state to near 100 per cent as on September 19. The state has received good rains in parts of Saurashtra, south Gujarat and Central Gujarat over the past few days. However, the Long Period Average (LPA) rainfall deficit continues to be close to 22 per cent as on Monday.

The state agriculture department data showed kharif sowing in the state covering an area of 85,94,600 hectares as on September 19, about 99.11 per cent of the normal sowing of 86,71,500 hectares.

While pulses remained the preferred crop with overall sowing going up by close to 65 per cent of the normal, that of cotton remained subdued with nearly 15 per cent decline over normal. The State government data puts overall pulses sowing at 7,31,700 hectares, of which urad witnessed sharpest growth of 170 per cent to 200,000 hectares as against the normal 74,200 hectares. The largest kharif crop of the region, cotton recorded 24,04,900 hectares of sowing, which is 15 per cent lower than normal 28,21,000 hecares. The area of second largest kharif crop — groundnut was up by close to 18 per cent to 16,43,500 hectares as against the normal 13,93,800 hectares. Other important crops such as castor and guar seed witnessed decline in sowing area by about 22 per cent and 41 per cent respectively.

The State has received total rainfall of 623.12 mm, which is about 22 per cent deficit from the LPA of 797 mm.

However, the Met department has predicted more rains for the remaining part of the week. “Light to moderate rain or thundershowers very likely at many places in the districts of Saurashtra and in Diu. At a few places in the districts of Gujarat region, Daman, Dadra Nagar Haveli and at isolated places in Kutch district,” the IMD forecast till September 24 morning read.

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