Maharashtra’s Kolhapur district faces drought in rabi season as well. In this situation, sowing of rabi season crops may be less this year. Soil moisture is required for sowing and due to drought it is very low in the field this year. This year, rabi season crops are expected to be sown in 21 thousand hectares of land. Where last year the area was 22500 hectares. A declining trend in area is already visible, as only 550 hectares have been sown in the current season so far. Farmers’ crisis is increasing due to drought. Because if the seeds are sown without moisture, the seeds will not germinate and they may have to be re-sown.
According to the Meteorological Department, Kolhapur received much less than normal rainfall from October 1 to 24. So far only 33.5 mm of rain has fallen where it should have been 105.6 mm. Kolhapur is among the districts that recorded the lowest rainfall in October. Farmers are optimistic that the rains will return to normal after the monsoon, but their worries have increased due to the absence of rains. Sowing is delayed due to lack of rain and insufficient moisture.
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How much rain last year?
It is feared that the cultivation of rabi crops including gram and summer pulses will decrease this year due to drought. Jowar, wheat, maize, chickpeas, grains and oilseeds are grown in the district during Rabi season. In October last year, 113 mm of rain fell. A few taluks in the hilly areas have recorded light rainfall in October this year.
How many crops can be sown?
Rabi sowing has been completed in 550 hectares of land here in a fortnight and farmers are now waiting for rain. In Rabi season, jowar is expected to be sown in 11,854 hectares, wheat in 1,650 hectares, maize in 1,293 hectares, gram in 4,773 hectares, other crops in 150 hectares and oilseeds in 103 hectares.
What did the agricultural officer say?
Kolhapur district in-charge agriculture superintendent Arun Vingardeve said, due to lack of rain, it is expected that one to two thousand hectares of land will be reduced in rabi season. However, seeds of gram, jowar and other food grains and fertilizers for them are available in sufficient quantity. Farmers should sow according to rain and water conditions.
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