Unfavourable climatic conditions for the second season in a row are set to affect wheat production in the state, experts said. This season, poor monsoon coupled with late onset of winter has led to decrease in Rabi sowing area by 25% and wheat acreage by 40%. Water scarcity coupled with warm weather has affected the acreage of wheat as farmers are opting for cash crops like garlic and onions to earn more profit this season.

All these reasons have become a major concern as Gujarat is the third largest producer of wheat after Punjab and Haryana. The state had made a mark by producing a record 3.83 million tones in 2007-2008.

According to the figures available with Junagadh Agriculture University (JAU) in Saurashtra, the wheat sowing has been severely affected in most parts of Saurashtra. Barring a couple of talukas in Junagagh, Jamnagar and Porbandar districts, the sowing data is not satisfactory in Rajkot, Surendranagr, Amreli and Bhavnagar. In worse-affected areas sowing has been as poor as 190 hectares to 500 hectares.

Junagadh district, which faced flood-like situation this year, has been leading with 9,000 hectares followed by little over 1,000 hectares in Jamnagar. “The initial reports suggest farmers are going for other less water-fed crops like cumin, garlic and onion,” said Vice-Chancellor of JAU, N C Patel.

In 2008-2009, after an impressive yield previous year, wheat production had dipped by 18 per cent to 3.14 million tonnes earlier this year. The current season may witness further fall in wheat production.“We do not have enough water. Besides, garlic as a commodity is more profitable,” said Praful Senjalia, president of Bharatiya Kishan Sangh.

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