Don’t rush with sowing: CM Fadnavis

Mumbai: Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday said that approximately five crores SMSes have been sent to farmers across the state in the last three days urging them not to rush with kharif sowing and asking them to follow the advisory issued by the state government.

Mr Fadnavis chaired a state-level karif review meeting with other state ministers.  It was  also attended by the officials of the agriculture and cooperative department, IMD officials, vice chancellors of various agriculture universities and divisional commissioners who gave detailed presentations at the meeting.

The CM said that this year’s foodgrain production is better in comparison to last year and the credit would go to agricultural investment and reducing dependency on rain. Quoting the weather experts he also added that though rainfall may be delayed, it will be normal this year. Owing to the delay in rainfall, the state has requested farmers to delay  sowing. The farmers have been advised about sowing and cultivation by the government’s service M-KISAN.

“Sixty-five lakh farmers have enrolled for PM Kisan Nidhi Yojna until now. I’ve asked all the collectors to speed up registration & validation. 70 lakh farmers are being updated and guided through SMS,” said Mr Fadnavis.

The state has 151 lakh hectares areas under Kharif crops, out of which 55 per cent to 60 per cent will have cotton and soybean, 10 per cent rice, 8 per cent sugarcane and 11 per cent corn.

Last year, the state received 73 per cent rainfall but could still maintain good food grain productivity. In 2012-13, rainfall was 90 per cent and production 128.62 lakh metric tonnes. In 2014-15, rainfall was 70 per cent and production was 82.51 lakh metric tonnes. In 2018-19, rainfall was 73 per cent and production was 115.7 lakh metric tonnes, said the CM.

Marathwada and some other places recorded 38.40 per cent to 50 per cent. Despite the scanty rainfall, the productivity recorded an overall increase with cotton registering a 17 per cent increase and the production of soybean, too, has shown a considerable increase.

Mr Fadnavis claimed that the government has invested around Rs 1.50 lakh crore in agriculture and allied activities with many initiatives.

The initiatives include investing Rs 34,000 crore on irrigation, Rs 8,900 crore on Jalyukta Shivar, Rs 19,000 crore on loan waiver, Rs 14,125 crore for assistance to farmers in natural calamities and Rs 16,778 crore on cropinsurance.

State to have normal rainfall

As per presentation given by IMD, the central India, which covers Maharashtra, will witness normal rain. Percentage to LPA (Long Period Average) would be 100 per cent. The whole country will get 96 per cent of the rainfall. Konkan and Central Maharashtra are expected to get rainfall between 93 per cent to 107 per cent, Marathwada will witness from 90 to 111 per cent rainfall and Vidarbha would get 92 to 108 per cent rain fall. The government has provided a WhatsApp number to each district so that complaints can be made and corrective measures are taken immediately.