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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Rabi acreage falls to a three-year low at 29.3 lakh hectare-Keyur Dhandeo

Rabi acreage falls to a three-year low at 29.3 lakh hectare-Keyur Dhandeo

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published Published on Jan 23, 2013   modified Modified on Jan 23, 2013
-The Economic Times

AHMEDABAD: Insufficient rains during Monsoon has dropped Rabi acreage to a three year low of 29.3 lakh hectare, reveal state government data. The sowing is about 18% lesser than 37.35 lakh hectare in the previous Rabi season. This is second year in succession that winter sowing has declined.

The kharif acreage in 2012 had also dropped by 7% to 81.71 lakh hectare because of rains that were about 27% lower than than the 10-year average. The summer sowing is also likely to face the heat as the storage of water in the dams is lower than in previous year. Wheat, Rape seed (Mustard), Cumin and vegetables are main winter crop in the state.

The water deficiency in the major part of the state is also likely to impact Summer sowing, which had peaked to 15.82 lakh hectare in 2010-11 and dropped to 13.18 lakh hectare in 2011-12.

A data by state Agriculture department pegs Rabi acreage at 29.3 lakh hectares compared to 37.35 lakh hectares in 2011-12 and 40.05 lakh hectare in 2010-11. Wheat, the largest crop of Rabi season has been sown over 10.37 lakh hectares in 2012-13, a fall of 18% over 12.64 lakh hectare in 2011-12 and a drop of almost 19% compared to 12.73 lakh hectare, an average of previous three years.

Acreage of Cumin (Jeera) also fell to 3.34 lakh hectare from 3.68 lakh hectare in previous year. However, it is higher than the three year average of 3.18 lakh hectare. Acreage of vegetables also dropped to 1.87 lakh hectare from 3 lakh hectares in previous year and a three-year average of 2.54 lakh hectare. Unavailability of the water for irrigation is the main reason for the decline in rabi sowing said state agriculture director BR Shah.

"Current year is not good for the farmers in the state, particularly for the Saurashtra and Kutch farmers. They have been facing water crisis. Hence sowing has affected," added Mr. Shah.

Saurashtra is facing a grave situation with six months to go for fresh Monsoon as dams in the region have 192.37 million cubic metre (MCM) of water, which is 7.69% of the storage capacity of the dams.

Similarly Kutch region has 24.26% of its water storage capacity, while north Gujarat has 44.51% of its water storage capacity. Central Gujarat and south Gujarat are more comfortable with 80% and 65% of water capacity.

Overall the 202 dams (excluding Sardar Sarovar Dam) has a total storage capacity of 14,690.30 MCM. Of this the actual storage stands at 9,233.47 MCM, against 10,489.61 MCM in corresponding period in the previous year.

The state received 580 mm rains in Monsoon of 2012, which is lower by over 27% compared to a 30-year average of 798 mm. Saurashtra region comprising of seven districts suffered the most with 371 mm rains or just over half of 648 mm, the average of previous 30 years.

Earlier in August 2012, the state government had declared 123 talukas (out of 226 in the state) of 14 districts (26 total in the state) as drought affected. The government had encouraged farming of fodder to save the livestock. This resulted in fodder acreage grow 13% over a three-year average of 3.42 lakh hectare to 4 lakh hectare, but it still falls short of 4.29 lakh hectare in 2011-12.

Mustard witnessed a fall to 2.08 lakh hectare compared to a three year average of 2.3 lakh hectares. Similarly Gram (Chana) also witnessed a drop from an average of 2.12 lakh hectare to 1.70 lakh hectare.


The Economic Times, 23 January, 2013, http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/agriculture/rabi-acreage-falls-to-a-three-year-low-at-29-3-lakh-hectare/articleshow/18145924.cms


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