An 82% rainfall deficit has brought kharif sowing in Gujarat to a near standstill, with farmers postponing planting amid the delayed advance of the southwest monsoon, according to a report by The Hindu BusinessLine.
By the end of June, only 12.71 lakh hectares had been sown—62% lower than the 33.9 lakh hectares covered during the same period last year—raising concerns over the pace of the sowing season if widespread rains do not arrive soon, the report stated. The area sown so far is just 15% of Gujarat’s normal kharif acreage of around 85 lakh hectares, highlighting the extent to which weak monsoon activity has disrupted farm operations.
Crop-Wise Breakdown: Groundnut and Cotton Hit Hard
The biggest setback has been in Gujarat’s key cash and oilseed crops. Farmers have sown only 4.29 lakh hectares under oilseeds so far, nearly five times lower than the corresponding period last year, according to the report.
| Crop | Area Sown (Lakh Hectares) | Year-over-Year Change |
|---|---|---|
| Groundnut | 4.12 | -73% |
| Soybean | 0.154 | -87% |
| Cotton | 6.83 | -51% |
| Cereals | 0.389 | +7% |
| Pulses | 0.055 | -80% |
Groundnut, the state’s largest kharif crop, has been planted on 4.12 lakh hectares, a steep 73% decline from a year ago, while soybean acreage has plunged 87% to just 15,406 hectares, the report noted. Cotton, another major kharif crop, has fared little better. Farmers have covered only 6.83 lakh hectares, down 51% from the area sown by the end of June last year, reflecting widespread caution amid uncertain rainfall.
Among cereals, however, sowing has bucked the broader trend. Farmers have planted 38,874 hectares, about 7% more than during the same period last year, according to the report. Pulses, on the other hand, have seen a sharp decline, with sowing limited to just 5,479 hectares, nearly one-fifth of last year’s coverage.
Regional Disparities and Monsoon Outlook
The uneven progress of the monsoon is evident across the state. While Surat and Tapi in south Gujarat received heavy showers over the past 24 hours, large parts of Gujarat continue to remain dry, delaying field preparation and planting, the report said.
The situation is most acute in Saurashtra, where Devbhumi Dwarka continues to record a 100% rainfall deficit. Nine other districts in the region are also grappling with rainfall deficits of more than 90%, leaving farmers reluctant to begin sowing until there is greater certainty over moisture availability, according to the report.
There is, however, some relief in sight. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), conditions have become favourable for the further advance of the southwest monsoon into more parts of Gujarat, the report noted.
The next few days are expected to be crucial, as widespread rainfall could help farmers accelerate sowing and narrow the gap with last year’s acreage. Commodity traders and analysts will closely watch weather developments, as the reduced sowing of key crops like groundnut and cotton may tighten supplies and influence prices in the coming months.
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