Kharif crops may be damaged due to heavy rains and floods in Maharashtra and Gujarat

23-Jul-2024 06:30 PM

Mumbai. Due to torrential rains and rising water level of rivers in many districts of the country's two important agricultural producing western states - Maharashtra and Gujarat, the fields have been flooded due to which there is a possibility of damage to Kharif crops.

In fact, last year, a serious crisis of drought had arisen in states like Maharashtra and Karnataka, which caused damage to Kharif crops and especially pulses and oilseeds. In contrast, during the current year, the south-west monsoon has been more than kind to Maharashtra as there is regular heavy rainfall there.

The rainy season is also continuing in Karnataka and Gujarat, due to which the crisis of water logging has increased especially in the low lying areas. 

It is worth noting that during the Kharif season, pulses and oilseeds crops are cultivated on a large scale in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Karnataka, which include tur (tuvar), urad, moong, soybean, groundnut and sunflower etc.

Gujarat is the most prominent producer of cotton, groundnut and castor. Maharashtra and Karnataka are the two largest producers of pigeon pea.

Maharashtra and Karnataka are the second and third largest producers of sugarcane. Turmeric is also cultivated on a large scale in Maharashtra during the Kharif season. 

The pace of sowing of Kharif crops in the above three states was quite fast and the condition of the crop is also generally said to be normal,

but in the areas where the fields have been flooded due to heavy rains, there is a possibility of damage to the crops.