Monsoon deficit raises risk of lower Rabi crop acreage
Farmers are likely to decrease rabi sowing due to inadequate rainfall and reduced soil moisture levels. This situation could lead to lower yields of critical crops such as wheat, pulses, and oilseeds. Many reservoirs are under pressure, with over half storing less than last year. State and central governments are encouraging farmers to choose crops based on water availability, especially in…
New Delhi: Farmers in several regions are considering reducing rabi crops due to deficient monsoon rainfall, low soil moisture, and depleted reservoir levels, which could lead to lower yields of winter staples like wheat, pulses, and oilseeds. Food prices have risen, with wholesale inflation reaching 7.36% in September. Acreage could drop by 25-30% in some crops, according to Suresh Agrawal, president of Dal Mill Association.
Lentils and gram might expand if there's no rain until Diwali, while wheat and mustard could be hit the hardest because they need multiple irrigation rounds, unlike legumes and millets. Soil moisture levels are below the average of the past decade in states like Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh, as per a government source.
Parts of northern Bihar are also facing below-average soil moisture, raising concerns about the scope of winter planting and farmers' crop choices. The shortage in soil moisture and irrigation reserves will likely affect planting decisions, especially in areas relying on rainfall, reservoirs, and groundwater. 36 reservoirs have water storage at or below 50% of last year's levels, while 26 are at or below 50% of their normal storage levels, as per the Central Water Commission.
Among the 741 districts monitored by the India Meteorological Department, 58% have received deficient or mostly deficient precipitation compared to the long-period average, 7% have normal rainfall, and 4% have excess rainfall. The central and state governments have advised farmers to choose crops based on water availability, encouraging those in water-stressed areas to switch to less water-intensive crops such as pulses and oilseeds.
Written by urgent.news from The Economic Times - Economy's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
