The skies have been unusually kind to Nagaur's farmers this year. Kharif cultivation in the district normally gathers pace only in the last week of June or after the monsoon sets in, but this time large-scale sowing was already under way by the second week of June. The reason lies in a string of western disturbances and cyclonic systems that brought rain ahead of schedule, handing growers an early window to get into their fields.
A Sight Returning After Four Years
This is the first time in four years that farmers are wrapping up large-scale field work even before the pre-monsoon phase and the official sowing window begin. The official Kharif sowing season opens on 15 June, yet more than 25 per cent of the district's area has already been sown ahead of that date — a clear sign of how directly the early rain has shaped activity on the ground.
What the Numbers Show
According to the agriculture department, Nagaur's average annual rainfall stands at 351 millimetres. Against that, the district's nine major tehsils had recorded an average of 136 millimetres by 13 June. Strikingly, about 51 millimetres fell between 1 June and 13 June alone — roughly 15 per cent of the district's annual average. It was this timely and generous moisture that gave sowing its momentum.
Over 2.08 Lakh Hectares Sown
The agriculture department has set a total Kharif sowing target of 8.32 lakh hectares for the district this year. Of this, sowing has already been completed on more than 2.08 lakh hectares. If the weather continues to cooperate, more than half of the district's area is expected to be sown by 20 June.
Crop-by-Crop Picture
Among pulses, moong is well in the lead. Against a target of 4.10 lakh hectares, moong has so far been sown on 90,200 hectares, while moth sowing has already crossed 18 per cent of its set target. In cereals, bajra is the standout crop, with seeds sown across 32,550 hectares against a target of 1.55 lakh hectares. The fastest progress has come in the early sowing of cotton, where nearly 60 per cent of the target area is already covered. Guar sowing, too, is advancing rapidly.
Monsoon Rain Set to Be a Blessing
Agriculture expert Bajrang Chaudhary said Kharif sowing in Nagaur usually picks up only after 15 June, but this time the western disturbances handed farmers a big advantage through early sowing. According to him, this head start could push the area under cereals and pulses beyond the fixed targets. The bajra area, in particular, is expected to expand by 10 to 15 thousand hectares this year. He added that because sowing has been done early, the coming monsoon rain will prove a blessing for these crops, raising strong prospects of a good harvest in the district this season.
