Sowing figures at other regions are not impressive either — Nashik is at 9%, Kolhapur at 19%, Aurangabad at 8%, Latur at 2%, Amravati at 5% and Nagpur at 3%.
The delayed and inadequate monsoon has impacted the sowing of the Kharif crop inthe state, which is expected to reduce crop yield as well as change sowing patterns in the long run. Kharif season typically starts with the onset of monsoon in June and ends in October.
Figures released by the state's Agriculture department reveal that out of 149 lakh hectares of total land to be harvested in Kharif season, only 7.35 lakh hectares has been sowed — a mere 4.91%. Last year, only 18% i.e. 39 lakh hectares of the told land was sowed at the end of June.
State agriculture department's weekly reports revealed that this year, only 6,430 hectares of paddy have been planted, as opposed to last year's 94.159 hectares. "This year, food grains have been sowed in 1.28 lakh hectares as against 41.72 lakh hectares last year, while a pulses cover a mere 37,311 hectares as against 5.64 lakh hectares last year; 1.33 lakh hectares hold oilseeds as against 13 lakh hectares from last year," said an official from the Agriculture department. "Cotton seeds have covered 4.56 lakh hectares in 2019, against 16 lakh hectares last year and 481 hectares hold sugar cane as compared to 4,331 hectares last year. Overall sowing percentage is down by 13% this year from last year."
Sowing figures at other regions are not impressive either — Nashik is at 9%, Kolhapur at 19%, Aurangabad at 8%, Latur at 2%, Amravati at 5% and Nagpur at 3%.
Experts are pinning hopes on steadier rainfall over the coming months.
"If the monsoon slows down, it will impact commodity prices," said Harish Galipelli, head of Commodities and Currencies at Inditrade, "The delay will also force the farmers to change their crop pattern, and most of them will shift from pulses to cash crops such as cotton to offset the losses. Last year, pulses didn't yield satisfactory returns."
Farmer leader and agriculture expert Vijay Jawandia says they are expecting continuous rainfall to minimize the impact on production and yield. "It hasn't rained considerably over Vidarbha, Marathwada and north Maharashtra. A good monsoon can correct the water deficit and recharge groundwater," he said.
The monsoon is yet to spread across Konkan and western Maharashtra. As per the Agriculture department's weekly report, paddy sowing is underway in Kokan.
A government official said that though the monsoon is delayed, it has been progressing and spreading well. "We are confident this continuous monsoon will change the scenario very soon and we will be in a better position with more land coming under sowing," he said.
No Rains
- As per the Agriculture dept, out of 149 lakh hectares, only 7.35 lakh hectares has been sowed
- Kharif season typically starts with the onset of monsoon in June and ends in October.
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