Floods and rains may damage Kharif crops in many areas
01-Aug-2024 11:30 AM
New Delhi. Although government data shows that the production area of Kharif crops is ahead of last year, there are indications of damage to crops due to torrential rains, waterlogging in fields and severe floods at local level in some states of the country.
On the other hand, the lack of monsoon rains in some areas and high temperatures have also increased the risk for Kharif crops.
This contradictory situation has actually arisen due to the uneven distribution of Southwest Monsoon rain.
There are many states where some districts have received more rain than normal while some other districts are stuck in the grip of drought.
In areas with surplus rain, a serious threat has arisen especially for pulses and oilseeds crops, while in areas with less rainfall, the risk has increased for paddy, sugarcane and cotton crops.
Southwest monsoon is still active in many states. The Meteorological Department has expressed the possibility of heavy rains continuing in Delhi-NCR till August 5. On the other hand, heavy rains and cloudbursts are being reported in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
According to the Meteorological Department, heavy rains may occur in the states of northwestern India in the next one or two days.
Rainfall has decreased in some parts of Punjab-Haryana as well as Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, so it is being awaited there, but in the areas where heavy rains have already occurred and the fields are filled with water or there is more moisture than required,
further rains may dash the hopes of the farmers. Maximum rainfall in July-August may dash the hopes of the farmers. July-August is considered to be the month of maximum rainfall and maximum sowing of Kharif crops.
Till July 26, the total production area of Kharif crops reached 811.87 lakh hectares, which is about 18 lakh hectares more than the sowing area of 793.63 lakh hectares in the same period last year. Sowing of crops will continue at least till mid-September.