Bulletin No.4/2012

12^th July 2012

Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture

Hyderabad

Status of monsoon and contingency plans for deficit areas of the country

            During the week ending 12th July 2012, the monsoon was active in central and northern parts of the India.  Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan received heavy rainfall.  Most parts of the Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Uttarakhand have also received good rains.  However, there are some districts in Bihar which received scanty rainfall like Jamui, Buxar, Nawada, Saharsa, Samasthipur, Siwan, Vaishali, Katihar and Durbanga which require implementation of contingency plans.  In the last 24 hours rains have advanced into western Rajasthan. Scattered rainfall is also occurring in Haryana and Punjab.  Good rains also occurred in Gujarat region but Saurashtra and Kutch remain under deficit.  There is also concern due to lack of sufficient rains in Karnataka (except coastal Karnataka) and parts of Maharashtra (Madhya Maharashtra).    Under this situation, the  contingency plans for problem regions are as under:

Andhra Pradesh

The state as a whole received reasonably good rains except Rayalaseema which was covered with sowing rains in the three days.  The sowing window for groundnut in Rayalaseema is still open and as such the state can continue with the normal crop schedules except in Telangana region where kharif sorghum is normally cultivated.  This crop should not be planted now. It should be replaced by pearl millet.  Where irrigation water is not released, paddy nurseries should be raised with ground water.

Karnataka

Both south and north Karnataka are under deficit rainfall.  In north Karnataka most districts are reeling under drought except Bidar, Gulbarga, Belgaum and Bijapur.  In areas where the crop has not been sown, intercropping of pearl millet and groundnut (2:4),  pearlmillet + redgram (2:1), maize + redgram (4:2),  redgram + horsegram (2:1) and chilli + desi cotton are advised upto end of July.    Repeated inter cultivation and removal of excess seedlings are recommended to conserve moisture in crops which are already sown.   In south Karnataka,  the sowing window for finger millet is open upto end of July.    In case of red gram upto end of July medium duration varieties like BRG 1and 2 can be planted.  Groundnut can be planted upto 15th July, beyond which it should be replaced by maize and sunflower. 

Tamil Nadu

In Tamil Nadu, the rainfall is more or less normal and as such no major contingency plan is required. 

Maharashtra

In Vidarbha region, adequate rainfall is received and normal cropping pattern can be adopted.  In Marathwada region, sole crops of sorghum, green gram and black gram are to be avoided after 15th July.  Intercropping of cotton + soybean, pearlmillet + pigeonpea, soybean + pigenpea are recommended under rainfed conditions.  In Madhya Maharashtra, short duration variety of pigeonpea (Vipula) can be planted upto 25th July.  As soon as adequate rains are recieved, sunflower can be planted as contingent crop.  Pearl millet should be avoided in this region beyond 15th July.  Horse gram can be planted upto 15th August.   

Eastern Uttar Pradesh

Recently good rains are received.   Farmers are advised to adopt direct seeding/transplanting of short duration paddy varieties (NDR 97, NDR 80, NDR 118, Susksamart, IR 36, Pant Dhan 12).  Pigeonpea + maize can be planted immediately. 

Rajasthan

In eastern Rajasthan widespread rains are received in the last one week.  In view of the delay in onset,  short duration varieties of maize (Pratap Makka -1, PEHM-2 and Mahi Kanchan), groundnut (JL-24, SB-11) and sorghum (CSH-6, CSH-14 and SPV-96) may be sown utilizing the present soil moisture condition.

Gujarat

Gujarat region (Anand, Baroda, Narmada, Ahmedabad and Dahod districts) received good rains and normal cropping pattern can be followed.  In Saurashtra region also rainfall is occurring during last few days and upto 20th July normal recommended cropping pattern (cotton, groundnut in south and bajra, groundnut, sesame and pigeonpea in north) can be followed. 

Bihar

Several districts of Bihar have received deficit or scanty rainfall and as a result water is not adequate for paddy transplantation.  Farmers Farmers are advised to avoid transplanting of long duration rice varieties beyond 20^th July.   In uplands sesamum (Krishna) and intercrop of maize (Suwan) and black gram (T-9, Pant U 19, Pant U 31) may be sown in place of paddy. In the north west alluvial zone, farmers are advised to undertake sowing of rice nursery, maize and upland pigeon pea and also sorghum and bajra crops for fodder purpose.

Note : The above is a general overview for the states.  However, ICAR (CRIDA) has prepared district level contingency plans (covering all farming situations within the district), for all states of peninsular India, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan.  These plans are placed in the website of the Ministry of Agriculture (www.agricoop.nic.in) and CRIDA.  The details of all crops, short and medium duration varieties to be used in case of delayed onset along with management practices are available in these plans district wise.

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