Scanty rainfall at the start of the monsoon and consistent untimely showers over the last few months are the reason behind agricultural production registering a sharp drop. This is expected to increase the prices of food grains and pulses, with the exception being sugar.
Scanty rainfall at the start of the monsoon and consistent untimely showers over the last few months are the reason behind agricultural production registering a sharp drop. This is expected to increase the prices of food grains and pulses, with the exception being sugar.
According to Economic Survey of Maharashtra 2014-15, in the Kharip season, production of cereals has plummeted by 28%, of pulses by 40% and oil seeds by 55%, cotton production has been down by 25%. Only sugar production has gone up by 10%. In the Rabi season, on the other hand, the state government estimated that the cereal production has dipped by 27%, pulses by 49% and oil seeds by 68%.
In the Kharip season of 2014, sowing was completed on 1.50 crore hectares, while this year it was done only on 1.45 crore hectares. The land under cereal and pulses has decreased.
The survey states that in pulses, in 2013-14, tur production was 1,141 tonnes, while in 2014-15 it was estimated to be 661 tonnes (-36%), moong production dipped to 89 tonnes from 208, while that of udat went down from 206 tonnes to 92.
Agricultural experts said due to an erratic monsoon, most farmers could not do the sowing on time, and whatever they did, they could not reap as most of the crops were damaged during Kharip season.
"Farmers thought that whatever they lost in Kharip, they will recover during the Rabi season. In the second season, the crops were damaged because of untimely rainfall and hailstorms," said Vijay Jawandia, an agricultural expert.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}