Increase in average area of Rabi crops in Nagpur Division
   Date :28-Nov-2022
 
Rabi crops
 
 
 
Staff Reporter
After a rain-battered Kharif season, now the farmers in Nagpur Division are pinning their hopes on the Rabi season. Already, sowing operations for Rabi crops are in progress. Interestingly, this time, the average area under Rabi crops, especially under Gram and Wheat, has registered an increase.
The average total Rabi area of Nagpur Division has increased from 3,84,420.85 hectares as per the Rabi final report of Agriculture Department dated March 21, 2022; to 5,00,177.18 hectares now.
Thus, the average Rabi area (including sugarcane) has increased by 1,15,756.33 hectares.
As per the final report on Rabi season at the end of March 2022, Nagpur Division reported 136.35 per cent sowing. Except for Gondia district, all the other five districts in the Division reported more than 100 per cent sowing as compared to average area. Wardha reported the highest sowing -- 238.31 per cent of average area.
Now, for the current Rabi season 2022-23, sowing operations are in progress. So far, 29.67 per cent sowing has been reported in Nagpur Division, as compared to the average area. Again, Wardha district has reported the highest sowing -- 49.39 per cent.
According to Jaswini Bhutange, Technical Officer, State Agriculture Department, the Rabi outlook this season was positive for Nagpur Division, which had received excessive rainfall that had damaged crops.
“The average area under Gram cultivation has increased by 69 per cent. This is due to short cycle and good demand. Besides, the average area under Wheat has increased by 20 per cent this Rabi season. Among nutritional crops, jowar area also has increased in Wardha, Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, and Gondia,” she told ‘The Hitavada’.
Another official said that there was good moisture in soil. State Agriculture Department has introduced Gram as second crop especially in Gondia, Bhandara, and Gadchiroli districts in Nagpur Division. Seeds are being made available to farmers at subsidised rates, through Mahabeej. However, said a source, due to relatively low response to this initiative in Gadchiroli district, meetings are being held at village level to make more and more farmers aware of the scheme. The department has encouraged Wheat crop in Nagpur district, Safflower and Gram in all six districts in Nagpur Division, and Linseed (Jawas) in Bhandara and Gondia districts.