PUNE: Cotton production is likely to be 23 per cent higher during 2019-20 as per the latest ‘Kharif Report’ for the year 2019 by Skymet, a private weather forecaster. Whereas, the production of rice, soybean and pulses is expected to fall across the country. The report talks about this year’s monsoon spread and its impact on the production of kharif crops.
As per the report, cotton production in the country will increase by 23 per cent to 35.37 million bales in 2019-20 from 28.70 million bales the previous year due to improved yield and increased acreages.
LOW PRODUCTION OF OTHER CROPS
Soybean production in the upcoming kharif season is estimated to be around 12.15 million tonnes. This is 12 per cent lower compared to last year’s production estimate of 13.78 million tonnes.
Excess rain in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra in September and October has adversely impacted the yields. Rice production is also likely to go down in the upcoming kharif season to be around 90.04 million tonnes, that is, 12 per cent down compared to 2018, which was 102.13 million tonnes.
Pulses’ production will be around 82.02 million tonnes that will be around 4.5 per cent down from last year’s kharif production estimate of 8.59 million tonnes.
CLIMATE CHANGE
Skymet Managing Director Jatin Singh noted that the monsoon season of 2019 was full of extremes. “Monsoon patterns are witnessing both intra-seasonal and inter-seasonal extremes. The monsoon of 2018 was a near-drought whereas Monsoon 2019 ended with almost excess rainfall. Also, this year, extremes were witnessed in June where the month reported high deficit. But September 2019 reported a record-breaking surplus. This makes the reality of climate change glaring,” said Singh.
This monsoon, an initial prolonged dry spell in June and early July coupled with excess rain in the second fortnight of August and throughout September was detrimental to both life and property. “Even the withdrawal was delayed, and rains continued till the first week of October. 12 states -- Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh experienced floods which led to severe losses,” Singh said. He added that out of 45.14 lakh hectares land that was inundated, a whopping 32.09 lakh hectares was agricultural land.
