Failure of monsoons, at present, is the cause of widespread anxiety among farmers in Rajasthan, and they are yet to begin their kharif sowing operations. Even though the state receives rainfall by the end of June every year, the monsoon is yet to bless the state even by the end of June 5 this year.

Over 60 per cent of the farm production in Rajasthan is contributed by the kharif crops and if the rains fail the position could be terrible. The Gehlot government is keeping a close watch on the monsoon and the price front. ``We are taking all possible measures to meet with the situation,'' said the chief minister.

Before the wheat sowings began this year the expected production was put at 65 lakh tonnes as against theactual 68.80 lakh tonnes. The total area covered under the crop was 27.66 lakh hectares as against 25.80 lakh hectares in the previous year.

Even though inadequate rains, coupled with certain irrigational hassles plagued wheat sowings last year, the output of grains registered a hike thanks to the timely availability of fertilisers and seeds. The high yielding varieties of wheat seeds had been arranged in good quantities by the state agriculture department. The agriculture university is hopeful to give some new varieties of seeds to the farmers this year.

Good quality of wheat is available at around Rs 660 per quintal, whereas the procurement price fixed for this year is Rs 550 per quintal. Last year the procurement price was Rs 445 per quintal and the state had provided 6.50 lakh tonnes to the central pool.

Officials expect that the total procurement of wheat in Rajasthan this year will be much more compared to the last year. This is despite the fact that the Centre has allowed export of 10 lakh tonnesof wheat. Reports say that so far about two lakh tonnes of wheat has been exported.

Rajasthan also produced 67.82 lakh tonnes of wheat during 1996-97 with the area being covered at 24.74 lakh hectares. Of late, the farmers have begun to show more interest in taking up wheat cultivation in the State. This is due to the better price they are getting on their produce compared to other rabi crops. The government also is keen on increasing the area under wheat with more areas being covered by the India Gandhi Canal Project. The latter is providing perennial irrigation to about 16 lakh hectares of land.

The yield in the command area of the Indira Gandhi Canal Project is also much more. This is due to the fact that there had been no cultivation for centuries in the command area of the project. The Himalayan waters brought by the Indira Gandhi Canal Project have changed the entire economy of the region.