Rains may delay cotton harvesting

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New Delhi: Unseasonal rains in parts of Maharashtra and Gujarat could delay sugarcane crushing in the country’s largest producing state and also impede harvesting of cotton.

Reports said the rains could damage standing grape crops in Maharashtra, the country’s largest producer of grapes.

Heavy rains in Kolhapur, Sangli and Satara districts of Maharashtra since the last few days have adversely affected standing crops of grapes and cotton.

State officials said rains in north and west Maharashtra has also caused some damage to tur and jowar crop in Khandesh region.

PTI reports that in Malegaon district, grapes in 200 hectares in Yesgaon, Ajande villages were severely damaged due to the rains.

“Grapes developed cracks and bunches started falling on the grounds in Malegaon. Pomegranates, onions, corns, and other crops are also damaged due to the unseasonal rain,” the agency reported quoting an unnamed farmer from the region.

The rains have also delayed harvesting of cotton in Maharashtra and Gujarat – the two states which account for more than 80% of the country’s total cotton output.

“Farmers are not harvesting due to rains. They will start once rains stop,” Reuters news agency said quoting N P Hirani, chairman of the Maharashtra State Cotton Growers Marketing Federation Ltd.

Among other crops, sugarcane crushing is likely to stay subdued for a week due to rains, industry officials said on Tuesday.

Wet soil makes transporting cane to factories difficult.

“There would be marginal fall in pace of crushing. But it would not impact on production in the current year,” Reuters said quoting an unnamed official from the Maharashtra Cooperative Sugar Factories Federation.

Maharashtra is the biggest producer of sugar in the country. Domestic sugar prices have jumped more than 82% since January due to lower output.

Experts said any further delay in crushing will not only lower the recovery, but also impede the sowing of rabi crops.

Although, the recent rains in western India because of a cyclonic build-up over the Arabian sea could cause some damage to the standing crops, but experts believe that it could also prove helpful in improving yield of tur or pigeon peas and hasten sowing of chana.

Rainfall is conducive for tur crop. It will certainly improve yields, Reuters said quoting Damodhar Gilda, a trader based in Gulbarga .