Deficit rains hit tur seeding in Karnataka, Maharashtra

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The sown acreage of gram or tur, a major kharif crop of pulses, fell by half in the week ending July 9 as rain deficits in major producing areas of Karnataka and Maharashtra affected sowing. The slow trend in sowing is seen to alarm farmers and traders, who are hoping for more rains in the coming days.

Turbine areas for the week ending July 9 were 10.32 thousand hectares, down 47 percent from the same period last year (19.46 thousand hectares). In fact, spaces through the end of the week of July 9 were at a four-year low. The natural area average of the five years preceding the period is 18.42 hectares.

In Karnataka, the area of ​​Turkey decreased by 53 percent to 3.79 thousand hectares compared to 8.13 thousand hectares in the previous year, while in Maharashtra, the classified area decreased by 46 percent to 3.35 thousand hectares compared to 6.24 thousand hectares in the previous year due to poor monsoon. So far, major producing regions like Marathawada are facing a deficit of 39 percent in rainfall while the shortfall is 31 percent in Vidarbha and 29 percent in Madhya Maharashtra. Inner North Karnataka faces a rainfall deficit of 37 percent while the shortfall is 31 percent in Telangana.

“There has been no rain this year. All the major districts in north Karnataka are facing a drought-like situation. In Kalapurgi, the main flour-producing district, though some farmers have started farming, it has dried up,” said Basavaraj Engin, President of the Karnataka Pradesh Red Gram Growers Federation. “Although the actual sowing window is until mid-July, the farmer can take the sowing until July 30, which may affect the yield,” Engin said, adding that even in Maharashtra, farmers are facing a similar situation.

Sowing delayed

There is no rain. It has not rained until 3 to 4 inches. The sowing of tur is delayed which will affect the yield. The sowing window of tur is until the end of July-August. Even if it rains until the end of the month, the sowing may take place new ones, and the farmers who started sowing can also benefit from it.”

So far, in Madhya Pradesh, greens have stabilized at 1.10 lei (1.92 lei in the same period last year), and also in Telangana at 0.74 lei (0.94 lei). Also, in Gujarat the acreages are decreasing at 0.69 lha (0.87 lha) and in Uttar Pradesh at 0.78 lha (0.98 lha).

Gujarat is doing well on a large scale, while sowing has been delayed in central Maharashtra and Vidarbha, the predominant growing regions, said Parag Jadri, advisor to the Indian Grains and Pulses Association. Although there is no accurate data on rainfall and sowing at the taluk level, farmers in some part of Vidarbha may have to re-sow as there is damage in about 10 percent of the sown area. “We expect better rains in August. There were also late rains last year. If the same pattern continues this year and if El Nino does not spread significantly causing droughts, then there will be a rebound. If the same situation continues, there will be concern,” Jader said. .