New Delhi, Tuesday, September 11, Rajasthan is one of the three states where rainfall has been above the normal during this monsoon season, yet the scarcity of rain due to late onset of the southwest monsoon had raised concern over the Kharif sowing in the the state. But, now as the state is oozing with rainwater due to surplus rainfall in the months of August and September, the Kharif sowing has improved significantly in the state.
The state has achieved 127 lakh hectares out of 150 lakh hectares targeted for Kharif sowing this year, till September 5. Nine districts have gone beyond 100% while 14 have achieved above 90% of their sowing targets. Though it is still short from the last year's 142 lakh hectares but, the picture looks good after state has received late monsoon rain. As the season is expected to push another round of rainfall during the next three days the state is expected to fulfill its sowing target.
These improvements in Kharif crops in the state owe to good rain during the month of August when a total of 2161.70 mm of rain received. The state also received 780.20 mm of rain till September 10. The state received a total of 3869.50 mm of rain during this monsoon till now.
The late arrival of monsoon has completely changed the crop pattern in the state. Bajra, which serves the dual purposes for the farmers as fodder and crop, has paved way to pulses and Jowar and oilseeds.
Since pulses like urad, moong and moth need less water compared to Bajra, farmers sowed them in bounty fearing less rainfall this year. However, Bajra, after heavy rain caught up achieved 66% of the target sowing.
