Surplus rains hit kharif crops; output may fall

Maharashtra, Punjab & Rajasthan worst affected

- SANDIP DAS

SURPLUS RAINFALL SINCE last month across parts of northwest India and continuation of showers this month due to stalled monsoon withdrawal have caused losses to kharif crops in many states, especially Maharashtra, Punjab and Rajasthan.

With rains still being reported across western and eastern parts of the country, crop harvesting has been delayed at several places. Agriculture ministry sources said that an assessment of the impact of crop damage is being done based on reports from the states.

Key crops likely to be affected include paddy, pulses, cotton, and sugarcane.

The ministry may have to revise downwards the projection of record kharif foodgrain output of 171 million tonne (MT) for 2025-26 crop year (July-June), compared with 168 MT in the last season.

THE EXTENT OF crop damage is believed to be the largest in Maharashtra, with half of its crop area having been impacted due to flooding.

Dattatreya (Mama) Bharane, agriculture minister of Maharashtra, said heavy rains have caused huge losses to kharif crops in the state where 6.8 million hectare (mha), out of the state's total sown area of 14.4 mha has been adversely impacted. "The crop investigative report for September has reached the final stage; the relief fund will be announced by next week," Bharane told FE.