Maharashtra farmers in distress over delay in monsoon

Aurangabad, Jun 25 (ANI): Farmers in Maharashtra have expressed their apprehension about heavy losses as sowing of 'Kharif' crops, especially cotton, fails to pick up due to the delayed arrival of the monsoon in the state.

The monsoon season in India generally begins from June and runs till September.

The Kharif crop is usually sown at the beginning of the first rains, after the arrival of the southwest monsoon season in the state.

Citing their woes, Shafiq Pathan, a farmer said they might incur heavy losses due to delayed monsoons.

"Farmers had arranged manure and seeds by taking loans and by borrowing money and they have incurred heavy loss due to the delay in the arrival of the monsoons. Some farmers are even irrigating their lands, but that will not result in excessive production. No matter how much rainfall occurs there will be not much of production," he said.

Pathan further said that due to the delay in the arrival of rainfall, production has been adversely affected as the seeds have failed to pick up and the production is unlikely to increase.

"Due to excessive rainfall last year, the farmers this year bought seeds and manure one month prior to the monsoon. However, due to the delay in the monsoons, the production will be affected. The arrival of the delayed monsoons will not benefit the yield as there will be merely 4 quintals of production instead of 10 quintals," he added.

According to meteorological department officials, monsoon has arrived in some parts of the state. However, as compared to previous years, it is yet to make a significant impact.

As per the official statistics, seeds have been sowed in 43.50 million hectares of land in the 'Kharif' season from 2008 to 2010.

Statistics reveal that last year (2010) in the month of June, crops were sown on 1.33 million hectares of land. Meanwhile, this year seeds were merely sown on 0.59 million hectares of land during the 'Kharif' season.

According to the reports, sowing of grains, pulses, oilseeds and cash crops has been significantly lower this year as compared to previous years due to the delayed monsoon. (ANI)