Maharashtra farmers told to defer sowing seeds until arrival of monsoon

The weather department has issued a ‘go slow’ advisory over the delay in the arrival of monsoon in the state.

Even as farmers in drought-hit Maharashtra prepare for the sowing season, the weather department has issued a ‘go slow’ advisory over the delay in the arrival of monsoon in the state.

The Agrimet advisory was issued to avoid wastage of expensive seeds in parched areas of Marathwada, Vidarbha and Madhya Maharashtra.(AP Photo)

The Agrimet section of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) asked farmers to till their land, but to defer sowing until the onset of monsoon to ensure that the seeds are not wasted for want of water.

“Do not undertake sowing operations till the onset of monsoon, which has not yet arrived in the state,” N Chattopadhyay, deputy director general of Agrimet, told reporters. “It is necessary to have good monsoon rainfall consistently for a few days for the seeds to grow into a good crop.”

The IMD will release a second advisory on the arrival of monsoon in Maharashtra for the farmers to start sowing.

The Agrimet advisory was issued to avoid wastage of expensive seeds, particularly of soybean, cotton and pulses, in parched areas of Marathwada, Vidarbha and Madhya Maharashtra. Some areas, however, have received pre-monsoon showers in the last few days.

Monsoon is expected to hit Maharashtra only after June 16.