PUNE: The ongoing rainfall activity in Maharashtra and adjoining states has not only helped in improving water levels in dams but it has also helped the agriculture sector to revive. Most parts of these states were on the verge of facing drought with no rain, however agrometeorology department experts stated that there has been phenomenal improvement in rainfall activity which will help in improving production of Rice, Sunflower and Groundnuts in the country.
The experts of agricultural meteorology department also stated that if there would have been further delay in the rainfall activity, it would have hampered crop production on a massive level but the rain has occurred just at the right time for the country.
N Chattopadhyay, deputy director general of Meteorology (Agricultural Meteorology) told dna, " Delayed monsoon had caused signs of worry for farmers as the sowing dates were expired but there was no rain. However, just when the situation was looking dismal, we have witnessed significant improvement in the rainfall activity which has struck the parts of central and western India at the right time. We hope that the rainfall activity will continue till end of July which will help in agriculture production."
However according to Agromet experts, the delayed monsoon will have its effects on some of the crops if not all. The production of pulses, Soybean, cotton is likely to get affected due to delayed rainfall in parts of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat. Chattopadhyay said, " Due to the delayed rainfall the production of pulses in Karnataka is likely to hamper and with delayed rainfall activity, no farmer should go for production of pulses. Instead of pulses, they should go for alternate crops of onion and vegetables to reduce the loses."
" The production of Soybean, cotton in parts of Vidarbha will also have impact due to the delayed monsoon. Apart from these crops, the production of sugarcane is also likely to hampered. Sugarcane requires lot of water and though many farmers have their irrigation system in place to water their farms, they use monsoon rain for four months of water supply. Since there was subdued rainfall, the sugarcane production in some parts may get affected," Chattopadhyay said.
On one side, the production of Soybean, pulses, sugarcane is likely to hamper due to delayed rainfall activity, the ongoing rainfall in parts of Maharashtra and adjoining states like Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh will help for the production of Sunflower, Groundnuts and rice.
" Instead of pulses and soybean, we have advised farmers to go for oil seeds such as sunflower and Groundnuts which can yield good production in the July rain. Apart from that the areas of North- East India, Kerala, Odisha has got heavy rainfall which is very good for rice production," Chattopadhyay said.
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