Bulletin No.6/2012

25^th July 2012

Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture

Hyderabad

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

During last 3-4 days, good rainfall occurred in Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Eastern Uttar Pradesh, South Rajasthan and Vidharbha.  The regions which are still under deficit rainfall conditions are Saurashtra & Kutch, Haryana, Punjab,  Western Rajasthan and South Interior Karnataka.  There has been some improvement in Madhya Maharashtra due to scattered rains. 

The following contingency measures are suggested for each of these deficit states/regions:

Rajasthan

         The state as a whole received 30% deficit rainfall till date. The situation in eastern Rajasthan is near normal with rapid progress in sowing of maize and other crops although late by week to 10-days.  However, the situation in western Rajasthan is bad with 60% deficit and no signs of improvement. 

·         In Southern Rajasthan, weeding and interculture operations in already sown crops is suggested to conserve moisture. 

·         In Western and Northern Rajasthan, short duration varieties of pearlmilllet (HHB-67) and  moth bean (RMO-40, RMO-225) and sesame (RT-125, RT-46) are recommended upto 31st July whenever adequate rainfall occurs.  Beyond 31st July, short duration pulses and fodder pearl millet are only recommended.  In case of late sowing, increase seed rate by 10-15 per cent in green gram and seasae.

Gujarat

Majority districts of Saurashtra & Kutch region are reeling under drought.  The situation in other parts of  Gujarat is also not encouraging.  However, because of more irrigated area, the sowings are completed in about 50% of the area till date.

·         Farmers of Saurashtra & Kutch region are advised to avoid groundnut, cotton and pearl millet sowing now.  Instead green gram (GM-4, K-851), seasame (Purva-1) and fodder sorghum (GFS-4, GFS 5, S-1049) are recommended for rainfed cultivation as soon as adequate rainfall occurs.   Short duration castor hybrids like GCH-8 can be planted upto 31st July. In already sown cotton and groundnut crops, life saving irrigation may be provided by using ground water.  Interculture operations and weeding to conserve moisture.

·          In districts with shallow soils, pulse crops like Blackgram (cv. Gujarat-1) , greengram (Gujarat-4), sesame (GT-2, GT-3) and fodder jowar can be sown upto 15th August as soon as adequate rainfall occurs.

·         In north Gujarat, clusterbean (HG-75, GG-1) and castor (GCH-2, 4, 5, 7) can be sown upto end of July.

Haryana

          Haryana  is experiencing 70% rainfall deficit.  In south west part of state, most of the area is rainfed.  Only about, 25% of the area was sown so far.  Bajra, cluster bean and moong are the major rainfed crops.   Till end of July, short duration bajra hybrids (HHB  67, HHB 216 and 226) and clusterbean variety (HG 365) can be sown as soon as rainfall occurs.   In crops already sown, interculture and weeding operations are to be taken up in conserve soil moisture.

Punjab

·         In irrigated districts, normal crop operations are recommended.  However, in rainfed area (Kandi region), the sowing of fodder Pearl millet varieties like PHBF 1, PCB-164 and FBC-16  can be done up to August.  For grain purpose, pearl millet varieties like PHB 2, PCB 164 and PHB 47 can be sown up to last week of July.

Madhya Maharashtra

            In Maharashtra, Vidharbha and Marathwada regions received near normal rainfall and the crop conditions is also satisfactory.  No contingency plan is suggested here.  In Madya Maharasthra, only scattered rainfall was received in few districts.   The following contingency planning is recommended. 

·     Sowing of sunflower, pigeonpea + clusterbean (1:2), sunflower +piegeonpea (2:1) in medium to deep black soils.

·    In the standing bajra, blackgram, greengram and cotton interculture operations may be done to conserve soil moisture.

·    Farmers can sow ICPL-87, BDN-708 and Vipula varieties of piegonpea; Shraddha, Saburi and Shanti varieties of pearlmillet; African tall, Manjri, Kiran and Panchganga varieties of fodder maize whenever adequate rainfall occurs and soil moisture builds up.

South Interior Karnataka

South Interior Karnataka is still reeling under 43% rainfall deficit conditions.

·         Farmers are advised to sow improved varieties of finger millet up to the end of July. Maize (Cv. Nityashri, NAC-6004) and Sunflower (Modern, BSH-1) may be sown in place of groundnut.  In view of the delay, only medium duration varieties (BRG-1 and BRG-2) of redgram may be sown upto end of July.

·         In already sown crops, interculture with blade harrow may be carried out and urea (1%) may be sprayed for 2 to 3 times to boost plant growth

Kerala

Kerala state this time recorded upto 40% deficit rainfall.  The state mostly grows plantation crops like coconut, rubber, pepper and cardamum.  Pepper and cardamum crops are facing drought conditions which may impact the yields.  Providing life saving irrigation where possible or mulching to conserve soil moisture in basins are recommended.

Other States

      The situation in other states does not warrant any change in cropping pattern.  However, there are some districts which recorded deficit rainfall.  For such districts, the district level contingency plans are made available in the websites of the Ministry of Agriculture (www.agricoop.nic.in), ICAR (www.icar.org.in) and CRIDA (www.crida.in)  The respective KVKs also may be contacted for needful advice.