Maharashtra kharif lags behind as farmers have covered only 47% so far

Maharashtra farmers have completed planting on only 47 percent of the 142.02 hectares of land available for Kharif sowing (excluding sugar cane). To date, they have covered 66.78 hectares. The late monsoon is likely to affect the production of moong (green gram) and urad (black matbi) as farmers prefer to grow soybeans, cotton, and flour (peas), according to estimates from the state Department of Agriculture.

The sowing report published by the ministry showed that the state had a total of 152.97 hectares available for fall including sugarcane planting and seeding on 67.31 hectares (44 per cent).

Last year during the same period, Kharif sowing was completed on 72.42 percent of the land (excluding sugar cane) and 69 percent of sowing on the land including sugar cane.

Slow seeding

Sowing operations have been slowed by a delayed monsoon, and by July 10, the state had received 72.3 percent of the average rainfall as against 108.3 percent of the average rainfall last season.

Only three provinces – Thane, Palghar and Gondia – received more than 100 percent of the rainfall. Farmers in many areas worry that the second round of sowing will impose an additional financial burden on them.

Sowing of food grains has been completed on 13.04 thousand hectares compared to 56.09 liters. Oilseeds were sown on 25.63 L out of 43.92 L. Cotton growers brought in more than 28.11 liters from cultivation out of the 42.01 litres.

On the other hand, the state government said that it had not received any report regarding the losses incurred by farmers in July.