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Farmers across Gujarat take a sigh of relief with the wet spell bought by incessant rainfall for five days saving the standing crop that was in the edge of loss. Just a week back farmers across the state were in worry over losing standing crop due to dry spell of a prolonged time.

According to agriculturists, the five day rainfall comes as a savior helping the survival of their kharif crops at the monsoon fag end. Due to the rains, 80 big and small dams began overflowing, particularly Saurashtra. Thus, water availability is eased for irrigation even if there is a retreat of monsoon now.

Rupavati village near Rajkot, farmer, Kamlesh Patel, said, "We were struggling to salvage cotton sown in 13 bighas and groundnut in seven bighas. However, five days of rainfall has come as a major succor. We won't need to pump out water from deep borewells now."

Saurashtra is one of the largest cotton and groundnut producers in India. It received 88% of its average annual rainfall, while 15% of it comes in last five days. In around 99% of the average cultivation area of 85.83 lakh hectares, sowing is done in Gujarat. Of the total 13.69 lakh hectares sowing area, 94.60 % is sown with groundnut, while on entire 27.61 lakh hectares, cotton has been sown.

Junagadh Agriculture University (JAU) dean A V Barad said, "Earlier we had estimated that a major chunk of the standing crop would be destroyed due to lack of water. However, the latest spell of rains has saved these crops."

A farmer in Amreli, Manskukh Savaliya, said, "This rainfall will recharge groundwater and watershed projects which will help save our crops.”

-Sumana