MP facing Rs 22K-cr crop loss due to erratic monsoon

Erratic monsoon has led to crop loss to the tune of Rs 22,000 crore in Madhya Pradesh this kharif season, a top official has said.

Madhya Pradesh, which has registered impressive agricultural growth in past few years, is in for a major setback this year as production of major crops, including soybean, pulses and paddy, is expected to fall significantly due to erratic weather.

“The production estimate has been revised downwards from 192 lakh metric tonnes to 135 lakh metric tonnes — It means a loss of Rs 13,800 crore in terms of minimum support price (MSP) and Rs 22,000 crore in terms of mandi prices,” state principal secretary (agriculture) Rajesh Rajora said.

The state government has revised soybean production estimate to 38.4 lakh metric tonnes (LT) from the earlier estimate of 77.7 LT. In case of pulses, urad production estimate has been revised downwards from 4.75 LT to 3.37 LT while arhar (tur) estimate has been revised downwards from 5.17 to 4.82 LT.

The state agriculture department has cited erratic monsoon, including the long dry spell during flowering and budding stages and early withdrawal of monsoon, as the main factor resulting in large-scale crop damage.

Pest attack has also affected soybean crop to some extent.

Crash in prices of Basmati rice and scanty rainfall in some pockets of the state have led to a sharp decline in paddy cultivation in the state. Paddy production is estimated to fall by about 20% this year.

In a letter to the Centre, the state government has said as per preliminary estimates, 114 out of 369 tehsils have been declared drought-affected and there was a possibility of this number increasing. The state government has urged the Centre for an additional assistance of Rs 1,900 crore to deal with the dire situation.

The state had registered an agricultural growth rate of 24.99% in 2013-14. Data for 2014-15 are yet to be officially released.

Initial production estimates of soybean, Urad, Arhar, Moong and paddy in the state were 77.7 lakh metric tonnes, 4.75 lakh metric tonnes, 5.17 lakh metric tonnes, 0.87 lakh metric tonnes and 52.10 lakh metric tonnes respectively. The production estimates of these crops have now been revised to 38.4 lakh metric tonnes, 3.37 lakh metric tonnes, 4.82 lakh metric tonnes, 0.41 lakh metric tonnes and 41.39 lakh metric tonnes respectively.