BHOPAL: After an increase in the area of sowing mustard this year, now farmers have sown more arhar or tur leading to almost tenfold increase in sowing area.
However, continued overcast conditions are bothering the farmers as the crop is almost ready for harvest.
The reason for more and more farmers opting for tur is the andsome returns that it fetches. The kitchen staple is sbeing old around Rs 100 a kg for the last several months.
Sources in agriculture department and those in agriculture universities confirmed that the increase in the area “may be upto 10 times more,compared to last year which was about 5000 hectares.” This year, the area under tur cultivation may be around 50000 hectares to 55000 hectares.
Right now, the farmers are concerned over the overcast conditions prevailing over large parts of the state for the last 20 days . Farmers are worried that clouds may affect the growth of tur and could give rise to insect and fungus attack on the growing plants, an agricultural expert said. The kharif crop is scheduled to be harvested in coming January and February, which is why farmers were more worried, said Beni Prasad, a farmer in Sehore, where tur crop is sown in almost 5000 hectares of land.
With the mustard prices reaching above Rs7,000 per quintal in the open market last year against the MSP of Rs 4,650 per quintal, farmers considered mustard a better option compared to wheatthis in many parts of Chambal and Gwalior regions of MP, known as mustard bowl of the state.
Farmers said that mustard requires lower input cost than wheat and has become more remunerative due to sudden rise in edible oil prices. DAP crisis, however, baffled the farmers.
