40% of kharif crops could suffer due to excessive rainfall in Rajasthan
Rajasthan has received record-breaking rainfall this year, which has hit the state’s kharif crops. Despite abundant sowing, rain-dependent crops are likely to suffer 30-40 percent, commodity traders say. More than half of the produce reaching the markets will also be spoiled. The damage could be reduced by 10-20 percent if the weather clears.
Ramavtar Khandelwal, a trader in Kookarkheda, said losses of 30 to 50 percent are expected in the main kharif crops of guar and 40 to 50 percent in Moong.
“The crop that comes to the market later, like bajra, will not be of good quality. We estimate 30 to 40 percent loss in pearl millet (bajra). If the weather does not clear, the millet will turn black and the crop will be good only as animal feed,” said Khandelwal.
Another trader, KG Jhalani, said that no damage has been seen in the peanut crop yet. He further informed that the main reason for the damage is suspected to be rot, spots and lack of beans in the crop.
“But this rain will be very beneficial in the coming rabi season. Due to excessive rainfall, filling of dams and overflowing of rivers, the water level in the soil has increased. The biggest problem in rabi crops was irrigation, which will now be reduced,” Jhalani said.
Talking about sowing, on September 4, the Rajasthan Agriculture Department released the final list of kharif sowing. According to this list, rice has been sown in 2.97 lakh hectares, over 145 percent of the target, jowar in 6.60 lakh hectares, 108 percent of the target, millet in 43.24 hectares, 98 percent of the target, green gram in 23.15 lakh hectares, 92 percent of the target, moth in 10.39 lakh hectares, 106 percent of the target, peanut in 8.54 lakh hectares, around 105 percent, soybean in 11.23 lakh hectares, 97 percent of the target, guar in 27.20 lakh hectares, around 98 percent of the target.
Agriculture and related sectors contribute about 27 percent to the state’s GDP.
First publication: Sep 13, 2024 | 11:43 PM IST