Unseasonal rain damages sesame and mango crops in Gujarat

19-May-2025 04:01 PM

Ahmedabad. Unseasonal rains and strong winds have damaged sesame and mango crops in Gujarat. Around 10 percent of mangoes, mostly unripe, fell from the trees due to strong winds.

Last week's storm and rainfall caused significant losses to the mango crop, prompting growers to use artificial ripening methods for the fallen fruit.

These adverse weather conditions are also expected to heavily impact Zaid crops such as bajri (pearl millet), maize, and sesame. Farmers in the region are now turning their focus to preparing for the sowing of Kharif crops.

Harvesting of Zaid crops had already begun, but the recent storm affected both the standing crops and those that had been cut and left to dry in the fields. Special assessments are currently being conducted to estimate the losses to sesame and bajri crops.

According to the Bhavnagar Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC), most of the onion crop had already been harvested and the remaining stock has not been significantly affected. However, the quality of onions may have declined in some fields.

The cumin crop had been harvested and safely stored before the rains, so it largely escaped damage. Still, cumin stock that was left out in the open at marketplaces has suffered partial losses.

The sesame and bajri crops, still standing in the fields, experienced considerable damage as heavy winds flattened the plants and rains created swampy conditions, causing the ears to rot or become stuck in muddy soil.