Kharif sowing in Gujarat has crossed 81 lakh hectare and nearly 95% of the sowing has been completed as on August 25, according to the state department of agriculture. The total area under groundnut has increased over 100% at 17.90 lakh hectare as compared to last year?s 16.67 lakh hectare and the area under cotton has also gone up to 23.71 lakh hectare from 22.68 lakh hectare which is the three-year average acreage.
?Good rainfall in the beginning of August has improved the prospects of sowing in the kharif season. I think the situation is very good and may improve further,? an official with the agriculture department told FE. Compared to the total sowing area of 87.55 lakh hectare for the last season, around 81.79 lakh hectare has already been covered under various crops, which shows the completion of 95% of sowing in the state.
The department stated that the total kharif sowing area included cotton – 23.71 lakh hectare, groundnut – 17.90 lakh hectare, paddy – 7.24 lakh hectare, castor- 3.6 lakh hectare, maize- 4.20 lakh hectare, bajra- 5.05 lakh hectare, guar- 1.46 lakh hectare and sesame – 2.3 lakh hectare. ?The area under cotton may increase up to 24 lakh hectare this season. Also, there is a possibility of a marginal increase in the acreage of castor, guar and tobacco in the days to come,? he said.
The total area under pulses has decreased by 15.30% to 6.03 lakh hectare this season from 7.12 lakh hectare, last season. Among pulses, there is a fall in moong cultivation as the area under moong decreased from 2.14 lakh ha to 1.60 lakh hectare.