Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture

Hyderabad

Bulletin No. 18/2012

28^th September 2012

Status of Monsoon and Contingency Crop Planning for

Deficit/Surplus Areas of the Country

            During the last one week, monsoon was weak and confined to few parts of the country and as a result the rainfall deficit has increased slightly (-2 to -3%) and surplus was decreased slightly in all the sub-divisions of the country. Monsoon started withdrawing from northwestern states and it was completely withdrawn from Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and New Delhi and withdrawn from most parts of West Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat states. Rainfall in monsoon is still deficit in West Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Chandigarh & New Delhi, Gujarat, Saurashtra & Kutch, Madhya Maharashtra, Marathwada, Tamil Nadu & Pondicherry, North and South Interior Karnataka and Kerala. The following contingency measures are suggested in deficit rainfall areas:

1.         Maharashtra state as a whole received 980.0 mm of rainfall during the season which is 90% of its normal. In Marathwada region, intercultural operations in late sown cotton and pigeonpea is advised. The standing crops experiencing moisture stress at grain filling stage need to be given protective irrigation. Farmers are advised to prepare land for rabi sowing immediately after harvesting short duration pulses. In Vidarbha region, condition of kharif crops is satisfactory. Farmers are advised to undertake field preparations and procurement of inputs for timely sowing of rainfed chickpea (ICCV-2, ICCV-10, JAKI-9218, SAKI-9516, PKV Harita, PKV Kabuli 2 and 4), safflower (Bhima, AKS-207, PKV Pink) and rabi sorghum (Maldandi, Yashoda, SPV-504, CASV-14R, PKV Krainti) in first fortnight of October. In Madhya Maharashtra region of Solapur farmers are advised to sow sorghum (Phule uttara, Phule panchami, Parbhani moti, CSV-22, M-35-1), Bengal gram (Vijay, Digvijay, BDNG-797) and safflower (DSH-129, SSF-658, SSF-708, Phule Kusuma). 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.

2.         Karnataka state as a whole received 596 mm of rainfall as against the normal of 816 mm for the season with a deficit of -27%.  In South Interior Karnataka farmers are suggested to take up gap filling in finger millet and intercultivation in early sown crops. Sowing of horsegram (cv. KBH-1 and PHG-9) can be taken upto 30^th September.

3.         Haryana state as whole received 283 mm rainfall against the normal of 462 mm with a deficit of -39%. Interculture and moisture conservation measures are advised for conserving soil moisture for sowing of rainfed rabi crops like raya, gram and other pulses. In view of the possible attack of jassids and sundi in cotton crop spraying of insecticides is recommended.