Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture

Hyderabad

 

Bulletin No. 17/2012

21st September 2012

 

Status of Monsoon  and Contingency Crop Planning for

Deficit/Surplus Areas of the Country

 

 

            During the last one week, widespread rainfall occurred in Andaman & Nicobar islands, East Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir. The number of deficit districts with more than 50% deficit rainfall has come down to 34 as on 19th September 2012 from 51 districts on 12th September. The deficit of the country as a whole has come down to -5%( normal). As such, in many states, the crop status is good with no major incidence of pests and diseases.  However, the following points are to be noted:

 

 

 

1.         In Bihar, due to widespread rainfall received during last week the condition of rice crop has improved and no contingency measure is suggested. However, taking advantage of sufficient rainfall, top dressing of Nitrogen @ 30kg / ha in the early sown crop and 40 kg / ha in late sown crop is advised.

 

2.         In Gujarat, majority of the districts remained dry during the last week. The farmers are advised to take up cultivation of fodder sorghum (GFS-4 and 5, S-1049 and Gundari) under optimum soil moisture. Farmers are also advised to carry out interculture operations in standing crops viz., tobacco, brinjal, chillies, tomato, cabbage and cauliflower. Pest control measures are to be taken up in cotton infected by sucking pests.

 

 

 

3.         In Karnataka, scattered light rains in the previous week has not improved the rainfall deficit situation in the state and still north interior and south interior are experiencing -30 and -21% deficit respectively. In South Interior Karnataka farmers are suggested to take up gap filling in finger millet and inter cultivation in early sown crops. Sowing of horsegram (cv. KBH-1 and PHG-9) can be taken upto 30th September. In the North Interior Karnataka priority can be given for sowing of crops like fodder sorghum and maize to avoid scarcity of fodder for livestock. Removal of excess and weak seedlings and interculture operations in standing crops are recommended to conserve soil moisture. Farmers are also advised to keep the lands and inputs ready for sowing of rabi crops like chickpea, safflower and wheat. In Dharward and Belgaum districts spraying of 2 ml trizophos 40 EC or 0.5 ml lambda Silothrin 5 EC dissolved in 1 litre of water is advised for control of Spodoptera pest in soybean.

 

4.         In Rajasthan, no contingency plans are required due to good rainfall and sufficient available soil moisture in crops.

 

5.         In Haryana, rainfall deficiency still (20th September) stands at -37% coming under deficit category. Withdrawl of monsoon in next two days in Haryana is predicted which likely to cause moisture deficit. Interculture and moisture conservation measures are advised for conserving soil moisture.

 

6.         Maharashtra state as a whole received 951.6 mm of rainfall during the season which is 91.3% of its normal. In Marathwada region, protective irrigation is advised in  standing crops, which are at grain filling stage having moisture stress. In Vidarbha region field preparations and procurement of inputs are to be taken up for sowing of rainfed chickpea in first fortnight of October. In Madhya Maharashtra region, hoeing and weeding in standing crops is advised for conserving soil moisture. In Nasik region, with sufficient rainfall received, farmers are advised to sow early varieties of rabi crops like sorghum, Bengal gram, safflower in shallow red soils.