Sowings in the case of the kharif could be done in an area of over 116 lakh hectares as against the target of 128 lakh hectares, but due to the failure of rains, the crops have withered away to a large extent. ``We are totally helpless in the matter,'' says a senior official of the state agriculture department. Nearly 80 per cent loss in the crop has been reported from the western region comprising Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Barmer, Pali etc. In the Bikaner region also the crops have been hard hit. However in the irrigated areas of Ganganagar and Hanumangarh, the position is somewhat better.

Jowar, bajra, maize, ground nut, soyabean, til, moong, urad and moth are themajor kharif crops besides cotton. The only redeeming feature for the farmers this year is the guar crop, which has covered about 24 lakh hectares as against 19 lakh hectares last year. This crop has somehow survived largely due to the irrigation facilities.

In the case of guar, the production expected at about 5 lakh tonnes and its current market price hovers around Rs 2000 per quintal. It is used in the making of gum extensively. The crop has covered more areas in Alwar and Bharatpur districts due to the attractive price it fetches in the mandies.

In the case of cotton, the area has fallen this year to around 4.64 lakh hectares as against the department's target of 5.80 lakh hectares. The crop is grown in the districts of Ganganagar, Hanumangarh and Bikaner. Last year the production of cotton in Rajasthan was 8.72 lakh bales and for this year, the department had fixed the target at 15 lakh bales.

At one time, cotton production had touched 13.72 lakh bales and officials in the agriculture departmentwere optimistic in the beginning that this year conditions would be favourable. But the failure of rains has hit hard the sentiments of the producers. The department is, however, hopeful that the cotton production this year may be higher at around 11 lakh bales as against 8.72 lakh bales last year. The cotton crop last year was low due to some diseases, but this year so far no such indications are available. The state produced about 18 lakh tonnes of bajra last year and for this year, the expected production is 9.39 lakh tonnes. But the latest reports received by the department paints a bad picture due to the complete failure of rains.

Already the bajra and jowar prices in the market have shot up and the farmers have taken up the soyabean crop so as to meet the losses.