Farmers in west and central India go slow on kharif
sowing
PUNE: Though June
rainfall so far has been above normal, its delayed progress in the states of
Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat has caused concerns among farmers and
may add to their distress.
The India
Meterological Department (IMD) forecast normal rainfall, lack of sufficient
rainfall in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh has slowed down the pace of kharif
sowing in central India and caused concern about the crop already sown. Some
weather forecast models indicating les sthan-normal rainfall in July this year,
may add to the worries.
Edible oil industry
body, Solvent Extractors Association expressed concerns about the progress of
monsoon. “The monsoon is not developing in normal way and it is likely that
monsoon advance may bypass the important soybean producing states like Madhya
Pradesh and Eastern Maharash tra and they may not get adequate rains in June.
This may delay so wing operations,“ it said in a let ter to its members.
In Madhya Pradesh,
only some minor sowing of soyabean has be en done in the Malwa region.
“This sowing need
improvement in moisture levels and we got so me rains on Thursday. We still ha
ve a sowing window till July 10 to 15,“ said Davish Jain, president, Soyabean
Processors Association of India (SOPA).
In Maharashtra, the delay and ambiguity over the eligibility cri teria for the loan waiver scheme of the state government has redu ced availability of finance for farmers for kharif sowing.
However,
the met department has some good news for the far mers from this part as it
expects strengthening of the Bay of Beng al branch of the monsoon.
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