Approximately 70 per cent crops sown in Rajasthan's Jodhpur district failed due to poor monsoon, according to a preliminary survey conducted by the agriculture department.
Threat of drought looms large in western Rajasthan with the region reporting below average rain fall dampening the hopes of farmers.
"Approximately 70 per cent of crops sown in the district in non-irrigated areas have failed" Deputy Director (Agriculture) B K Dwivedi said.
He said the actual loss can be asessed after getting detailed report on crop failure by the revenue department. As far as the Jodhpur district is concerned, a total 13.50 lakh hectares of land is sown in the district during kharif season. Of this, 4.50 lakh hectares is irrigated land while the remaining 9 lakh hectares is non-irrigated. With a good landing of monsoon this year, the farmers proceeded with sowing of crops such as millet, groundnut, moong, til and cotton on a large scale.
