In Gujarat, the sowing area of major Rabi crops has shown a significant decline during the current season compared to the previous year. The crops experiencing the largest reductions in sowing area include wheat, sorghum, maize, pulses, oilseeds, sugarcane, and spices.

Specifically:

• Wheat: The total sowing area has fallen sharply, from 3.95 lakh hectares last year to just 2.12 lakh hectares this season. This includes a decline in irrigated areas (from 3.77 lakh hectares to 2.07 lakh hectares) and non-irrigated areas (from 18,000 hectares to 3,000 hectares).
• Maize: The sowing area has decreased from 68,000 hectares to 61,000 hectares.
• Sorghum: This crop has seen a steep reduction, with the area dropping from 15,000 hectares to only 3,000 hectares.
• Pulses: Overall, the sowing area for pulses has reduced from 3.45 lakh hectares to 2.30 lakh hectares. The area of gram fell from 3.14 lakh hectares to 1.84 lakh hectares, although the area for other pulses saw an increase.
• Oilseeds (including mustard): Mustard sowing area has reduced from 2.21 lakh hectares to 1.33 lakh hectares, leading to an overall decline in oilseeds sowing from 2.21 lakh hectares to 1.35 lakh hectares.
• Sugarcane: The sowing area dropped from 95,000 hectares to 87,000 hectares.
• Spices: There has been a significant decline in the sowing area of key spice crops like cumin, coriander, fennel, and garlic.

This overall decrease in sowing area is a concerning trend for the agricultural sector in Gujarat, which is one of the prominent producers of many of these crops. Factors contributing to this decline could include adverse weather conditions, changes in water availability, or shifts in market demand.