Pune: Maharashtra has made major growth in Kharif crop sowing this year, achieving 98 per cent of its targeted area (excluding sugarcane) already covered. Out of the 14.202 million hectares designated for kharif crops, sowing has been completed on 13.946 million hectares, reports Hindu Businessline.
Including sugarcane, the total average area for Kharif crops stands at 15.297 million hectares, with 14.102 million hectares, or 92 per cent, of sowing completed. In comparison, by August 7, 2023, the state had brought 13.367 million hectares (87 per cent) under Kharif crops, including sugarcane, and 13.175 million hectares (93 per cent) excluding sugarcane.
According to a report from the state government, replanting efforts for paddy and millet are nearing completion, with the replanted crops currently in the seedling and early growth stages. The sowing of sorghum, pearl millet, maize, soybean, pigeon pea, black gram, green gram, groundnut, and cotton is also in the final stages. Other crops are progressing through various growth stages, with pearl millet in the early growth stage, and green gram and black gram advancing from branching to flowering. Soybean crops have reached the flowering stage.
The planting of new Adsali sugarcane has begun, accompanied by ongoing intercropping operations in seasonal, last year’s ratoon, and stubble sugarcane fields.
Despite the generally favourable crop conditions, some areas have reported crop damage due to heavy rains. The affected regions include the Konkan, Pune, Kolhapur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, and Nagpur divisions. Between June 1 and August 5, 2024, the state recorded an average rainfall of 584.6 mm. By August 5, 2024, the state had received 766.5 mm of rainfall, which is 131.1 per cent of the average. This is a significant increase compared to the 595.9 mm of rainfall, or 101.9 per cent of the average, recorded by the same date in 2023.
A preliminary assessment report dated August 2, 2024, indicates that the July 2024 rains caused damage to crops and fruit plantations across the state. The total affected area amounts to 144,141.18 hectares, with an additional 500.31 hectares of land washed away.
