Maharashtra monsoon near normal, but uneven rain slows kharif sowing
Maharashtra received 334.5 mm of rainfall between June 1 and July 13, which is 96.28 per cent of the normal average of 346.4 mm, but
Maharashtra received 334.5 mm of rainfall between June 1 and July 13, which is 96.28 per cent of the normal average of 346.4 mm, but the spread of rain across the state remained uneven. A presentation made before the state cabinet on Tuesday said the monsoon had so far delivered near-normal rain overall, even as several districts reported either excess or shortfall. Read Full Story The presentation said Kharif sowing had been completed on 96.21 lakh hectares, covering 67 per cent of the state’s normal sowing area of 144.36 lakh hectares.
In the same period last year, Kharif sowing had covered 120.65 lakh hectares, or 84 per cent of the normal area. The cabinet was told that paddy transplantation was under way in some places. Sowing operations are gathering pace, and crops sown so far are largely in the germination to early vegetative stage, according to the presentation. Rainfall distribution remained uneven across the state. Nine districts — Thane, Raigad, Palghar, Ratnagiri, Ahilyanagar, Pune, Satara, Sangli and Jalna — recorded more than 100 per cent of normal rainfall, while Nandurbar received the lowest at 29 per cent of its normal rainfall.
Twelve districts recorded rainfall between 50 and 75 per cent of normal, while another 12 districts received 75 to 100 per cent of normal rainfall. Crop-wise sowing data showed maize had been sown on 8.91 lakh hectares, or 95 per cent of its normal area, followed by soybean on 37.37 lakh hectares, or 79 per cent, and cotton on 32.79 lakh hectares, or 77 per cent. Overall pulse sowing stood at 11.46 lakh hectares, or 56 per cent, oilseed sowing at 38.20 lakh hectares, or 78 per cent, and total foodgrain sowing at 25.21 lakh hectares, or 48 per cent of the normal area.
Paddy sowing was reported on 2.87 lakh hectares, or 19 per cent of its normal area. Maharashtra has so far received close to normal rainfall this monsoon season, but uneven distribution has affected sowing progress, with Kharif coverage still below last year’s level and paddy transplantation continuing in some areas. Ends
The BriefWire