New Delhi: The government today said drought
has not had a major impact on crops like wheat and rice grown
in the 2009-10 Rabi season, except in Gujarat and Rajasthan.
Due to deficient monsoon this year, 316 districts in 13
states were declared drought-hit. Production of foodgrains in
the Kharif season is estimated to have slipped by 16 per cent
to 98.82 million tonnes, according to official data.
"Barring states like Gujarat and Rajasthan, there is no
major overall impact of drought on Rabi crops as such,"
Minister of State for Food and Agriculture K V Thomas said in
a written reply to Rajya Sabha today.
Late rains at the end of the Kharif season in August and
September improved soil moisture boosting the planting of
rabi crops, he said.
The Kharif season begins in April-May and ends in
September-October, while the rabi season begins from
October-November and ends by March-April.
Noting that rabi sowing was in progress across the
country, the minister informed Parliament that area under
wheat, the major crop of the season, has increased marginally
to 217.02 lakh hectare (LH) as on December 10, from 216.02 LH
in the same period last year.
Similarly, rice area has increased to 3.36 LH from 2.11
LH, while pulses acreage rose to 111.90 LH from 109.39 LH, in
the review period, he said.
PTI
First Published: Friday, December 18, 2009, 21:18