Decline of 1.35 lakh hectares in Kharif crop area in Gujarat

Ahmedabad. Although the sowing area for Kharif crops in the western state of Gujarat has seen good progress in recent weeks, it still lags slightly behind last year's levels. According to the latest data from the State Agriculture Department, the total area under Kharif crops in Gujarat reached 82.67 lakh hectares by September 21 this year; this is 1.35 lakh hectares less than the 82.02 lakh hectares recorded during the same period last year. Sowing of Kharif crops in the state has largely concluded.

Official data indicates that compared to last year, the combined area for paddy and coarse cereals in Gujarat rose from 13.80 lakh hectares to 13.86 lakh hectares, the area for pulses increased from 4.51 lakh hectares to 4.70 lakh hectares, and the cotton acreage expanded from 20.83 lakh hectares to 21.51 lakh hectares during the current Kharif season. However, the area under oilseeds fell from 31.84 lakh hectares to 30.05 lakh hectares, and the sowing area for guar dropped from 75,000 hectares to 52,000 hectares.

During the period under review, the area under paddy improved from 9.03 lakh hectares to 9.25 lakh hectares and the area under sorghum (jowar) rose from 12,000 hectares to 14,000 hectares; conversely, the sowing area for pearl millet (bajra) fell from 1.73 lakh hectares to 1.63 lakh hectares, and the maize acreage declined from 2.81 lakh hectares to 2.72 lakh hectares.

Among pulse crops, the cultivation area for Tur (pigeon pea) increased from 2.97 lakh hectares to 3.30 lakh hectares, and the sowing area for Urad (black gram) rose from 83,000 hectares to 93,000 hectares; however, the acreage for Moong (green gram) fell from 48,000 hectares to 32,000 hectares. Among oilseeds, the cultivation area for groundnut declined from 22.02 lakh hectares to 20.70 lakh hectares, castor acreage dropped from 6.63 lakh hectares to 6.10 lakh hectares, and the area under sesame decreased from 41,000 hectares to 20,000 hectares.