Limit wheat acreage to available irrigation, agri dept tells farmers ahead of rabi sowing
Nagpur’s agriculture department advised farmers to limit wheat sowing during the rabi season according to assured irrigation availability amid deficient rainfall and El Niño concerns. Farmers with limited water resources were encouraged to consider gram, safflower and linseed, adopt moisture-conservation practices and use drip or sprinkler irrigation.
Nagpur: Farmers planning to cultivate wheat during the upcoming rabi season have been advised to restrict their sowing area according to assured irrigation availability, with the agriculture department cautioning against bringing large tracts under water-intensive crops amid fears of worsening water scarcity.
Nagpur taluka agriculture officer Rama Bankar said farmers should assess groundwater levels in borewells, existing soil moisture and available irrigation facilities before finalising their cropping plans.
The advisory comes against the backdrop of deficient rainfall and the anticipated impact of El Niño, which could further strain water resources in the coming months.
Officials stressed that farmers should not determine sowing acreage solely on the basis of available farmland. Instead, the extent of cultivation must correspond to the water that can realistically be supplied throughout the crop cycle.
Wheat cultivation, which requires comparatively more irrigation, should be limited to areas where sufficient water is assured. Farmers with restricted irrigation facilities have been encouraged to consider gram, safflower and linseed, depending on local soil and weather conditions.
The department has also emphasised measures to retain soil moisture. Farmers have been advised to undertake timely intercultivation, hoeing and weed control to minimise moisture loss, while orange growers have been encouraged to adopt mulching.
Where feasible, drip and sprinkler irrigation systems should be used to improve water efficiency.
Bankar urged farmers to consult agriculture officials before finalising their sowing plans, stressing that matching crop selection and cultivated area with available water would help minimise financial risks arising from uncertain weather and irrigation shortages.
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Source : The Times of India
