In Banaskantha district, farmers are currently busy harvesting millet and other crops. Recent unseasonal rains in May have affected the quality of the millet crop. Farmers faced challenges as the unexpected rains led to damage in many areas. However, as the clouds cleared and the sun reappeared, temperatures began to rise again. Farmers are now focused on collecting the millet before the monsoon season starts. They are making efforts to transport their harvest to safe storage.
The weather in May has been unstable, resulting in unseasonal rainfall that damaged crops, including millet. Farmers reported a loss of about 25 to 30 percent of their millet due to these adverse conditions. Normally, farmers complete their harvest by the end of May, but this year, many crops were left unharvested because of the repeated rains.
In the fields, threshing machines are now running busily as farmers start to collect their millet. Experts predict that the monsoon could arrive around June 15, prompting farmers to act quickly to ensure their harvest reaches storage facilities safely.
In total, over 200,000 hectares of millet were planted across northern Gujarat, with Banaskantha accounting for about 13,578 hectares of that area. Recently, there has been a rise in the supply of millet at local market yards, such as in Disa, where 5,666 bags were delivered on a recent Saturday. The price per 20 kg bag ranged from 465 to 553 rupees.
Farmers are hopeful for more favorable weather conditions in the coming days, which would allow them to complete their harvest successfully. The community remains alert and is preparing for the challenges that might come with the approaching monsoon season. Despite the setbacks faced earlier, the resilience of the farmers in Banaskantha shines through as they work tirelessly to secure their crops and livelihoods.
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