India?s winter crop and hydro-power are poised to get a boost this year as widespread rains have channelled more water to the country?s reservoirs compared with last year.
Central Water Commission (CWC) data show that while last year?s cumulative water storage in June-September was 115 billion cubic metre (bcm) or 76% of storage capacity, this year it is 126 bcm or 83% ? an increase of seven percentage points. Most parts of the country have received good rains during June-September.
Rabi crops are sown during October-November and harvested next summer. Farmers in irrigated areas benefit when sufficient water is available to grow these crops.
According to live CWC storage position data, 75 out of 81 key reservoirs are now 80% full and three (Periyar in Kerala, Girna in Maharashtra and Gumti in Tripura) 50-80%. Meanwhile, reservoirs in Orissa ? Upper Indravati, Balimala and Upper Kolab ? are less than half full. Most of India?s key reservoirs are in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Punjab.
An official from the water resources ministry attributed the higher storage this year to widespread rain in the last two months.
According to latest agriculture ministry kharif sowing data, rice has been sown in 38.36 million hectares, 3.32 million hectare more than last year?s acreage.
Increased coverage has been reported from West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
Oilseeds have been sown in 17.95 million hectares, 4.79 lakh hectares more than last year. Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan have reported higher coverage.
According to first advance estimates, kharif 2011 production of rice is estimated at a record 87.10 million tonnes.
The government is expecting record output of cotton and oilseeds too this year.