Desperate for rains, farmer get some hope

RAJKOT: Finally, there is some good news for farmers in Saurashtra as they desperately await a good spell of rainfall that has eluded the region for over three weeks now.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) officials, light to moderate rains or thundershowers would occur at isolated places in south Gujarat, Saurashtra and the Union territory of Diu off Saurashtra coast.The rain forecast is for next four days till July 20.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, weather remained cloudy throughout the day across the region with high humidity levels.
As most of the farmers in Saurashtra have completed sowing, cashing in on the first good spell of rains, they are in desperate need of a second one to save their crops.
Sowing in Saurashtra was completed in 32.82 lakh hectare out of 36.30 lakh hectare of cultivable land.
The region has received 37% of its average annual rainfall so far. However, delay in rains has worried farmers as it might have impact on crops.
The state government has started releasing water from dams to save crops. An additional two hours of electricity is being supplied to farmers to pump out water to irrigate their farms.