“Kharif crops to be planted in the event of a delayed rainy season or for re-sowing (second or third sowing)”

In some parts of the state, even though the second week of July is coming to an end, a good amount of rainfall has not yet started. However, in some areas, the growth of crops sown during the initial rains gets stunted due to a subsequent dry spell (break in monsoon), or it leads to a crisis of sowing for a second time (re-sowing). As a result, in areas where the rains have not yet started properly, confusion arises in the minds of farmers as to which exact crop to choose for late sowing. According to the concept of ‘Mid-Season Correction’ (repair)—which involves selecting specific crops based on the arrival of the rains—the Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth has determined the crops to be grown during each fortnight of July and August as follows;

First fortnight of July:

Suitable for pearl millet (bajra), foxtail millet (rala), amaranth (rajgira), groundnut, castor, tur, horse gram (hulga), sunflower, similarly an intercropping of pearl millet (bajra) + tur in a 2:1 ratio is useful.

Second fortnight of July:

Suitable for pearl millet (bajra), foxtail millet (rala), castor, tur, horse gram (hulga), sunflower, or Suitable for intercropping at the following proportion:

• Sunflower + Tur in a 2:1 ratio.
• Cluster bean (Gwar) + Pigeon pea (Tur) in a 2:1 ratio.
• Millet + Tur in a 2:1 ratio.

First fortnight of August:

• Castor, pigeon pea (tur), horse gram (hulga), sunflower, or an intercropping of sunflower + Tur in a 2:1 ratio, similarly a mixed cropping castor + ridge gourd (dodka) is useful.

Second fortnight of August:

• Castor or Sunflower

By practicing intercropping, even under any adverse conditions, a good production is obtained from at least one of the two crops; otherwise, under normal conditions, a bonus production is obtained from the intercrop along with the main crop.