SOWING OF RABI PULSES AND OILSEEDS GAINING
MOMEMTUM
Sowing of Rabi pulses
is gaining momentum. The area reported to be sown so far is about
17 lakh hectares which is ahead by about 9 lakh hectares as compared
to the corresponding period last year. The normal area under Rabi
pulses is about 106 lakh hectares. Gram sowing has also accelerated
and the area covered so far is 12 lakh hectares which is ahead
by about 7 lakh hectares as compared to the corresponding period
last year. Gram is the main crop under Rabi pulses with a normal
area of 58 lakh hectares which is about 57% of the total Rabi
pulses area. The major Bengal gram producing States are Madhya
Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh with a normal area of 22,
8 and 8 lakh hectares respectively.
The normal area
under Rabi oilseeds is 79 lakh hectares. Major Rabi oilseeds are
Rapeseed & Mustard, Rabi Groundnut, Rabi Sunflower, Linseed
and Safflower with a normal area of about 52, 9, 8, 6 and 4 lakh
hectares respectively. Reported area sown under Rabi Oilseeds
so far is about 36 lakh hectares which is more than 16 lakh hectares
as compared to last year’s coverage. Area reported this year so
far under Rapeseed & Mustard is 23 lakh hectares
against 12 lakh hectares covered last year in the corresponding
period. Accelerated sowing has taken place in Rajasthan, Haryana
and Himachal Pradesh. Major Rapeseed & Mustard growing States
are Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and Gujarat
with normal area of 19, 9, 5, 5 and 3 lakh hectares respectively.
Sowing of Toria is nearly over in the northern States. Mustard
sowing is continuing.
No gregarious Locust
activity has been noticed during the surveys conducted by the
Locust Warning Organization in various localities of the Scheduled
Desert Area of Gujarat and Rajasthan . Intensive surveys are being
conducted to detect any Locust activity in the Scheduled Desert
Area.
There is no
report of shortage of any commonly used chemical pesticides or
bio-pesticides in the country.The incidence of pest & diseases
remains below the Economic Threshold Level generally for most
of the crops.
As on the thirty
first of last month, total water storage in the 71 important reservoirs
monitored by the Central Water Commission was about 61% of the
full reservoir level of 131.28 billion cubic meters. This is 120%
of the last year’s level and 82% of last 10 years’ average. Bhima
a reservoir in Maharashtra has no utilizable water.
