State’s kharif output in ‘02-03 season could be 45-50% lower than
the target due to the delayed monsoon. The target for agricultural
production in the current kharif is: foodgrain 109.3 lakh tonnes,
oilseeds 23.3 lakh tonnes, cotton 34.6 lakh tonnes and sugarcane 583.4
lakh tonnes.
Total
area under crop this season was targeted at 141.7 lakh hectares (ha)
while sowing has been done in 120.5 lakh ha. Another 7-8 lakh ha could
be added following transplanting of kharif paddy in the Konkan and
Vidarbha, two areas which have received adequate rainfall for these
operations.
Officials in the state’s agriculture statistics department said though
sowing is ahead of the sowing done at this time last year, the stress
to crops due to lack of rain would mean lower production. "At this
time last year, 85% sowing was done; this year, 88% has been done.
So, this year, we are slightly ahead. But the prolonged stress which
the plants have faced will affect productivity,’’ officials said.
Sugarcane productivity is likely to be affected by 10-20% since the
crop is planted only on irrigated land.
The state’s foodgrain production during the last kharif season was
75.6 lakh tonnes against the target of 120.1 lakh tonnes while productivity
was 987 kg per ha against the target of 1,380 kg per ha. This year,
the productivity target for foodgrains is 1,293 kg per ha.
Officials admitted that production is, on average, 25-30% lower than
targets; this year, it could be 45-50% lower. Oilseed production in
the last kharif, ’01-02, was 18.5 lakh tonnes, against the target
of 24.1 lakh tonnes while cotton production in the same period was
27.9 lakh tonnes against a target of 32.4 lakh tonnes.
Meanwhile
agency reports from Kopargaon quoting director-general of Bhartiya
Krishi Anusandhan Parishad and secretary to central government’s agriculture
department Punjab Sinh, said that there would be no shortage of foodgrains
even though 75% of the country was facing drought conditions.
Speaking
to reporters after inaugurating agriculture information technology
centre at Rahuri’s Mahatma Phule Agriculture University here, Mr Sinh
said a stock of 60m tonnes of foodgrain was available but damage of
kharif crops would lead to fodder problem.
Drought situation was severe in the western part of UP, Rajasthan
and Haryana while shadows of drought were looming over MP, Maharashtra,
Orissa, Gujarat and Punjab, he added.
PUNE: TIMES NEWS NETWORK
[ WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 07, 2002 6:36:27 AM ]
