iGrain India - The sowing of Rabi crops in Gujarat is significantly behind the previous year due to several factors, including delays in the harvesting and preparation of Kharif crops and unusually high temperatures. According to the latest data from the state's agriculture department, as of November 25, the sowing area for key crops like wheat, jowar, and pulses has decreased substantially compared to the same time last year.
Key Observations:
- Wheat: The sowing area has dropped from 3.95 lakh hectares last year to 2.12 lakh hectares this year.
- Jowar: The area has decreased from 15 thousand hectares to 5 thousand hectares.
- Maize: The sowing area has fallen from 67 thousand hectares to 61 thousand hectares.
- Other cereals: The area has declined from 4 thousand hectares to 2 thousand hectares.
Similarly, the area for pulse crops has also seen a decline:
- Pulses: The area for pulses dropped from 3.45 lakh hectares to 2.30 lakh hectares, which is about 26.28% of the normal area.
- Gram: The area for gram reduced from 3.14 lakh hectares to 1.84 lakh hectares.
- However, the sowing area for other pulses has improved, rising from 31 thousand hectares to 47 thousand hectares.
This delay in sowing and the reduction in the area of key crops could have implications for the overall agricultural output in the state, as Gujarat plays a significant role in the production of cereals, pulses, and oilseeds in India.