Maharashtra Economic Survey: Good Monsoon To Help Maharashtra's Farm Industry Grow By 10.2%

According to the Maharashtra Economic Survey 2022-23, the agriculture and allied sector, which is the backbone of the state's rural economy and employs 55% of the population, will grow by 10.2% in the current fiscal year.

The projected growth is attributed to the recent good monsoon and the absence of drought. In 2022, the state received 119.8 percent of its monsoon rain. There were 204 excess rains, 145 normal rains, and only six deficient rains among the total 355 talukas (excluding those in Mumbai city and Mumbai suburban districts).

In comparison to the advanced estimate of 4.4 percent for 2021-22, followed by the first revised estimate of 11.4 percent, the projected growth of 10.2 percent appears to be a quantum leap.

Sowing for the kharif season 2022-23 was completed on 157.97 lakh hectares, a decrease from the previous year's 163.79 lakh hectares. Cereals, oilseeds, cotton, and sugarcane production are expected to rise by 10%, 19%, 5%, and 4%, respectively. However, overall pulse production is expected to fall by 37% in comparison to the previous year.

For 2022-23, the rabi crop sown on 57.74 lakh hectares shows a downward trend. Though pulse production is expected to increase by 34%, cereal, and oilseed production is expected to decrease by 13%.

Increased sugarcane cultivation area is a major contributor to growth. The Sugarcane plantation area increased from 12.32 lakh hectares to 14.88 lakh hectares. Until four years ago, the average area under sugar plantations in the state was 9.892 lakh hectares. Sugar plantations and production increased, causing farmers in drought-stricken Marathwada to turn to cash crops in greater numbers.

According to the economic survey, the area under horticulture crops in 2022-23 was 23.46 lakh hectares, up from 23.92 lakh hectares in 2021-22. According to preliminary estimates, the total area under fruit crops in 2022-23 will be 8.32 lakh hectares, with mango accounting for the largest share (1.64 lakh hectares), followed by pomegranate (1.56 lakh hectares), grapes (1.19 lakh hectares), mandarin orange (1.20 lakh hectares), banana (0.91 lakh hectares), and mosambi (0.65 lakh hectares).

According to preliminary estimates, the total area under vegetable cultivation in 2022-23 will be 11.62 lakh hectares, with onion accounting for the most (9.18 lakh hectares), followed by tomato (0.60 lakh hectares) and green chilly (0.60 lakh hectares) (0.33 lakh hectares).

The government has launched 'Jalyukta Shivar Abhiyan 2.0' as part of its drought-free Maharashtra mission and to improve farmers' access to water infrastructure. The project, which ran from 2014 to 2019, helped to increase irrigation potential.

The government intends to carry out soil and water conservation work in villages where the first phase of the Jalyukt Shivar Abhiyan and other development programmes were not carried out.

Source: The Indian Express 

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