JOIN USThe monsoon arrived late by over a fortnight in Rajasthan. Of the 21 almost dry districts, thirteen fall under scanty and eight in the deficit category of rainfall, an official said.
Jalore, Pali, Sirohi, Ajmer, Tonk, Dholpur, Jaipur, Sawaimadhopur, Bundi, Jhalawar, Banswara, and Dungarpur were among the district that received scanty rainfall while Bhilwara, Bharatpur, Karauli, Kota, Baran, Chittorgarh, Pratapgarh and Rajsamand were under deficit rainfall districts.
Normal rains up to 19 per cent occurred in five districts, excess upto 60 per cent in three and abnormal rains in four districts.
The situation was almost similar last year till July 10, 2009 although the monsoon had arrived early in June.
This season, Govindargh recorded a maximum rainfall of 320 mm followed by Kotkasim 233 mm in Alwar district. Whereas Banswara recorded a minimum of 7.0 mm followed by Pali 27 mm so far.
Jaipur received 119.3 mm rainfall as against the average rainfall of 585 mm.
In last 24 hours, light to moderate rains occurred in Tonk, Bharatpur, Dholpur, Karauli, Sawaimadhopur, Alwar, Dausa, and Baran districts. The rainfall varied between 10 mm to 60 mm.
Inspite of delayed monsoon, the state Agriculture Department expects a good kharif production this season as sowing was completed in two-third cultivable land against a target of 142.5 lakh hectares.
Sowing of millets and pulses should preferably be done before July 25 whenever the rains are received in the state, a statistics department official said.
Barring six districts of Dungarpur, Banswara, Jodhpur, Barmer, Sirohi, and Pali, the farmers have been engaged in sowing of pulses, oil seeds, and cereals' seed in two third of the targeted cultivable land which was about 100 lakh hectares, he said.
Despite facing drought in 27 districts last kharif season, the state has recorded a total of about 50 lakh tonnes of food grains, he said.
There was production of 35.13 lakh tone of cereals, 1.13 lakh tone of pulses, 14.3 lakh tone of oil seeds, 1.35 of sugarcane, 2.84 lakh tone of cotton, and 2.01 lakh tone of gwargum in last kharif season, he said.
Rajasthan's every crop required rains in specific intervals as it is the sub-tropic region. Particularly in kharif season, every major crop like Bajra, Rice, Maize, Jowar, and cotton requires time bound rains after sowing, he said.