NEW DELHI (PTI): With the Monsoon becoming merciful again after playing a bit tritant, the situation on the Kharif crop front has changed dramatically bringing cheer to farmers, who were worried about the vagaries of the rain God.

Reports reaching the Krishi Bhavan (agriculture ministry) as also those received from the PTI bureaus, generally paint a scenario which is far different from the gloomy outlook a few weeks back.

Official sources say that the sowings of paddy, the main Kharif crop, though slightly delayed would be completed by the middle of this month, thanks to the recent wet spell.

As regards the sowings of coarse cereals, they are almost over except for Bajra. The situation as regards oilseeds, pulses and sugarcane has also been satisfactory.

A major highlight was that the rains in the remaining two months August and September are expected to be normal and Krishi Bhavan officials are confident that if this was so, then it would wipe out whatever ill effects had taken place in June and July.

The cumulative rainfall from June 1-July 29 was excess or normal in 17 out of 35 meteorological subdivisions, while out of remaining 18, it was marginally deficient in U-P., Jammu and Kashmir, Gujarat and Vidarbha, In the last week of July, the rainfall was excess or normal in 27 sub-divisions.

The national target of food grains production has been fixed at 183 million tons this year, slightly more than the 182.5 million tons for last year, This has been done taking into consideration the forecast of the meteorological department that there would be a slight delay in the onset of Monsoon this season and it would be on the lower side.

Of the target of the main Kharif crop, rice, has been fixed at 68.75 million tons during the season and 8.5 million tons in the Rabi season with the total targeted production of 77.25 million tons.

Wheat target has been set at 57 million tons, a bit higher than the record production in the range of 55 to 56 million tons last year,

The state-wise situation is as follows:

Uttar Pradesh: As per a recent Lucknow report, the state government is hopeful of achieving the Kharif target of 106 lakh tons in the current season, Moderate to heavy rains in recent days has helped the rain deficient districts. Though the Monsoon has been late by three weeks, it has not caused much damage to the paddy crop so far.

Sufficient rains in Allahabad, Varanasi, Gorakhpur  and Faizabad divisions has helped in stepping up transplantation and sowing operations of paddy.

The Lucknow report said that the recent rains have come as a boon for the Kharif crop and has dispelled the possibility of a drought. BIHAR: According to agriculture department sources in Patna, the prospects of Kharif which appeared bleak till early July, improved due to the rainfall during the month. As such about 75% of the Kharif target of 86 lakh tons could be met, the sources said.

The state recently sent an “SOS” to the center for additional stocks of diesel to run pump sets as the power situation was dismal.

 HARYANA: The paddy production is expected to be normal in the state despite less rain.

The state government has arranged for additional power to the farm sector for the running of tubewells. Water was also being released in Yamuna as per the needs of the farmers in Kurukshetra and Karnal districts, M.P.: As per a recent report from Bhopal, the situation has somewhat improved following the rains in the last week of July as the state was deficient in rains.

Article extracted from this publication >> Aug 21, 1992