Jaipur: Following a good monsoon season, the sowing of some Rabi crops exceeded their sowing targets. Amidst concern over hailstorm on Friday, farmers in the state achieved robust figures for barley and mustard, surpassing initial targets. The extensive sowing indicates a promising prospect for the upcoming harvest of Rabi during March, although weather-related anxieties persist among the farmers.
TOI on Friday spoke to agriculture department officials to understand the progress in Rabi season. As per data available with the agriculture department, many crops attained more than 100% of the targeted sowing. “On an average, more than 85% of almost all major winter crops have been sown. If weather conditions are favourable, we expect a bumper harvest of barley, wheat, and mustard in March. There is a possibility of a dip in the prices too,” said Naresh Jhalani, a commodity trader at Khushkhera foodgrain mandi.
According to govt data, sowing of barley is 7% more than the target. “The sowing target for barley was 38 lakh hectare; however, by Dec 15, it was sown in an area of 40.63 lakh hectares, which means sowing is 107%,” said an official of agriculture department. “For wheat, 94% sowing has been completed,” the official added.
Likewise, gram sown has achieved almost 95% of the target. For mustard, sowing has also been completed in over 81% of the targeted area. Mustard is sown in 32.70 lakh hectares against the target of 40.50 lakh hectares.
Khemaram Beniwal, a farmer from Takrada village near Chomu on the city outskirts said, “The ongoing Mavath (rainfall) is beneficial for the crops. But we are praying that no hailstorm is witnessed.”
