Gujarat farmers go for sowing cotton, less for groundnut

Rajkot, Jun 2 (UNI) Early widespread rain in the Saurashtra region has prompted farmers to go for sowing cotton in 15-20 per cent more area than the previous years, while the area under groundnut is likely to fall by 10-15 per cent.

Since the bulk of groundnut and cotton, the two major cash crops of the region, is grown on unirrigated land, rain plays a major role in deciding the crop, agricultural experts told UNI here today.

Monsoon pattern from onset to withdrawal and total precipitation play a major factor from sowing to germination and flowering of different crops.

Although it is too early to venture into crops production, area under sowing can be estimated fairly accurately. Even if it does not rain for a fortnight, it will help recharge the subsurface water table favouring cotton crop more than groundnut, said the experts.

Last year, Gujarat produced about 89 lakh bales of cotton and 15 lakh tonnes of groundnut, the bulk from the Saurashtra region.

According to weatherman here, all the seven districts in the Saurashtra region, barring Kutch and Surendranagar, received good rains.

The maximum rainfall in the region was reported from Amreli (188 mm), followed by Sihor in Bhavnagar district (110 mm).

Meanwhile, death of a farmer, Khimadeva Kanara (age 30), due to electrocution was reported from Modhpar village in Lalpur taluka today.

UNI XR-VKC MJ ARB KN1940