an increased sowing activity was registered in over 8 lack hectares in Maharashtra and Marathwada thanks to the ample rainfall in the past five days. With this new sowing, the total sowed land now stands at 1.18 crore hectares of area being brought under the sowing parts after good rainfall being registered in many parts of Maharashtra since 5 days.

In areas of Vidarbha and Marathwada, the sowing activity is almost complete as reported by the State agriculture commissionerate. Cotton, soyabean, pulses, sunflower and some cereals are the core crops of these regions. All the sowing is dependent completely on rainfall as there is no source for ample irrigation in the area, especially in summer and winter.

However, several other regions of Beed, Ahmednagar, Sangli and Jalna, the rain shadow region is yet to receive good rainfall. 89% of the total land under agriculture has been sowed. In certain districts like Kolhapur, Satara and Nashik, the rainfall has been so good that several farmers had also gone for the second round of sowing with views of higher yield.

Latur and Aurangabad have also reported that they had more than usual rate of sowing. There are many areas that are yet to reach the normal sowing area percentage.

(AW- Anil)