Despite rain, state sees bumper crop

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 3

Unseasonal rain and hailstorm in some parts of the state in March and April have caused widespread damage to Rabi crops but the state Agriculture Department has not lost hopes of a bumper crop. The foodgrain production is likely to exceed the target of 1642.50 lakh tonnes for 2014-15.

The crop prospects are good and despite damage to crop, the department is hopeful of bumper crop if they is no further rain. The loss is negligible in Bilaspur (810 hectares), Kinnaur (30 hectares), Kullu (922 hectares) and Una (575 hectares) while it was marginal in Shimla (1,700 hectares), Sirmaur (2,765 hectares) and Solan (2,600 hectares).

The state marginally exceeded the wheat sowing target by 572 hectares during the Rabi season. Timely rain during regular intervals from mid-December to mid-March had created conducive conditions for the bumper Rabi crop but rain and hailstorm during last week of March and April damaged crops in the 71,620 hectare area, resulting in production loss of about 40,000 tonnes.

Against the target of Rabi sowing in 4,29,200 hectares, the actual sowing was done on 4,34,656 hectares, exceeding the target by 5,456 hectares while area under commercial crops was 42,416 hectares.

“The loss can grow if rain continued in May as being predicted by the MeT Department and we are keeping our fingers crossed,” JS Rana, Director of Agriculture, said. The crops suffered more than 50 per cent damage in 37,833 hectares and loss was put at Rs 60-crore till April 10 and the assessment of loss and damage is still in progress.

In terms of money, the loss to foodgrains crops was about Rs 11.75 crore while the commercial crops, including potato, vegetables and ginger suffered loss to the tune of Rs 47.80 crore.

There was shortfall in expected Kharif crops production due to 38 per cent deficient monsoon rain in the region but rain in December, January and February not only helped in achieving the sowing target but also provided enough moisture for wheat crop, that had brightened the prospects of the bumber crop, sufficient to cover up the Kharif deficit.

Kangra district suffered the maximum damage where the crop in 46,294 hectares was affected and loss was more than 50 per cent in 25,250 hectares.

About 8,100 hectares were affected in adjoining Chamba district and damage was more than 50 per cent in 3,305 hectares while in Mandi and Hamirpur districts 4,100 hectares and 3,715 hectares were affected and damage was more than 50 per cent in 1,960 hectare and 1,400 hectares.

The estimated production during the Rabi season, including wheat, pulses, oilseeds, potato, vegetables and ginger, was targeted at 13.34 lakh tonnes but about 40,000 tonne crop has been hit and major damage.