kharif crops sowing

In the heart of Bihar, farmers are grappling with the harsh realities of an unpredictable climate, where rising temperatures and erratic weather patterns wreak havoc on agriculture. Torrential rains and sudden storms are not just wreaking havoc on crops, but also tragically leading to increased lightning-related incidents.

Facing a predicted low monsoon, Birsa Agriculture University's VC urged farmers to diversify from rice to millets, pulses, and oilseeds for the kharif season. Emphasizing moisture conservation and early preparation, he advised rainwater harvesting and vegetable cultivation. Officials are developing district-wise contingency plans to mitigate drought risks, with clarity expected by mid-July.

Launched in the 2019-20 season, Bihar's climate-smart agricultural program has transformed the farming landscape. In just five years, a remarkable enhancement in soil health is evident, with organic matter and nitrogen levels soaring by nearly 20%.

The India Meteorological Department has forecast the possibility of El Nino conditions during the South West monsoon season. Economists and experts note that a weak monsoon will add to the woes caused by higher crude oil prices, and fertilizer supply disruptions.

Keeping hopes afloat on the farm front, kharif crop sowing in the country continued to pick up throughout last week despite deficit rainfall during the period.

Monsoon is expected to be normal in June boosting sowing of kharif crops but there are concerns about pick up in rainfall in the next month, a top India Meteorological Department (IMD) official said on Thursday.

The delay in rains has also delayed the sowing of Kharif crop in the state. As compared to last year, sowing began on a slow note this year.

Crop production during the ongoing kharif season is likely to cross last year’s level if the rainfall pattern during the rest of the monsoon period remains similar to the one seen between June 1 and July 15, India Ratings and Research has said.

Sowing of pulses, coarse cereals and oilseeds is almost over, while rice planting is still in progress in the ongoing kharif 2020 season notwithstanding the COVID-19 pandemic, the agriculture ministry said on Friday. Sowing of kharif crops has not been impacted by the pandemic and there has been record area coverage under the summer crops, it said in a statement.

Monsoon has been late and erratic this year.But, farmers of Vidarbha, who are by now used to this climate change factors, have taken up the kharif crop sowing in right earnest at the right time, albeit a month late.

The weak monsoon is now beginning to cast a shadow over sowing activities as well.

So far so good. That’s how the monsoon could be described this year if one compares it with last year’s. Though the Meteorological department had predicted a normal monsoon this year, yet the state received a good rain so far. Perhaps the monsoon seems to have overstayed in the state and thus has extended the sowing of Rabi crop.