According to an official release, sowing has been initiated in more than one lakh hectares of land in some parts of the district, while in other parts lands were being prepared for the same, with farmers expecting good rainfall this season.

Though there was complaints about an insecticide problem in some parts of the Karjan and Sinnor talukas of the district, elaborate measures were being taken to educate farmer to avert problems, the release added.

According to official information, cotton had so far been sowed in more than 47,000 hectare, tuwar dal in over 30,000 hectares, danthar in 12,000 hectares, maize in 12,000 hectares and arad, juwar, bajari, dal, sherdi, kodra soyabean and groundnut in rest of the district.

Meanwhile, officials of the district weather office have forecast moderate rains in the next 24 hours. According to information, Karjan taluka had recorded 5 mm (total rainfall of the season, 614 mm) rain during the past 24 hours ending at 8.30 am on Thursday.

Jetpurpavi, 4 mm (307 mm) and Chhotaudepur, 3 mm (263 mm), Vadodara and Sankheda, 2 mm each (422 mm and 279 mm, respectively) and Naswadi, 1 mm (209 mm).

Informing that there was no rainfall in Dabhoi, Padra, Waghodia, Savli, Sinnor and Kwant, officials said that the water-level in all the main ponds and rivers there had receded due to absence of rain.