Kharif sowing picks up in Odisha after normal rains

Kharif sowing in Odisha has picked up with the resumption of the monsoon in July, though there was a deficit in rainfall in June compared to the corresponding period last year.

As of July 16, Kharif sowing has been undertaken in 2.53 million hectares (ha) compared to 2.56 milion ha covered during the same period a year ago.

The state has witnessed a 16 per cent deviation in rainfall, which is termed as normal. Odisha has received 212 mm actual rainfall against the normal rainfall of 252 mm.

Cereals have been sown in 1.72 million ha. Paddy, the key kharif crop of the state, has been sown on 1.484 million ha, compared to 1.487 million ha last year. Pulses have been sown on 0.24 million ha.

“The sowing area is normal this year and equals last year’s coverage. There is no alarming condition in the state. Transplantation can continue up to August 15,” said Anupama Baliarshing, associate professor of agro-meteorology at the Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology.

The state government has set a foodgrain production target of 10.1 million tonnes (mt) in the Kharif season after standing crops were destroyed by the drought last year.

The central government is considering how to promote gold mining and get more money into research and development for gold and jewellery.

Last weekend, at a convention organised by the Bullion Federation, Arjun Ram Meghwal, minister of state for finance, said the government would look into all concerns raised by the industry and to promote the 'Make in India' programme in jewellery.

Industry representatives have been assured a look at issues such as the flow of unaccounted money into gold, high duties and other items related to export.

Sources note that in the past six months, average monthly import has come down from 70 tonnes a month to 15 tonnes for the domestic market, along with a significant rise in export of gold jewellery. This is being described as 'round tripping', of gold being purchased at a discount and re-exported with a little value addition.

The Bullion Federation has asked that before the proposed national goods and services tax (GST) is implemented, the customs duty be cut to five per cent; the minimum excise in GST would be 14 per cent. The jewellery industry is still unable to digest a 12.5 per cent duty.