The monsoon advanced further into some more parts of Gujarat region, Saurashtra, parts of east Rajasthan, remaining parts of Haryana and Punjab by June 28. It covered the remaining areas of the country by June 30. Thus the monsoon covered the entire country two weeks earlier than the normal date of July 15.

According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), increased rainfall activity is likely to continue in west Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, coastal and south interior Karnataka, Kerala and northeastern states while normal rainfall will occur in other parts of the country.

In the meantime, the locust situation bulletin of the union agriculture ministry has noted some local build-up of locusts in 11 localities in Bikanar and Barmer districts ofRajasthan in scattered population at densities ranging from 210 to 450 adults per square km. This is due to the rise in humidity levels and water collections in desert areas following unprecedented rainfall.

The bulletin, however, denied presence of any gregarious locust activity due to infiltration from across the border, though small scale breeding of locusts was reported in interior Baluchistan in Pakistan west of Transhahr and near Khuzdar, Pangur, Turbat and in the coastal districts in May this year. Swarms and hopper bands of locusts were also detected in Saudi Arabia in April, 1998, and in Yemen and western deserts of Egypt in the first week of May.

In Jodhpur maximum humidity was 100 per cent followed by Ganganagar 98 per cent, Barmer, Sikar and Bikaner 95 per cent, Deesa 90 per cent and Jaisalmer and Bhuj 85 per cent. In six localities of Barmer district in Rajasthan namely Gadra Road, Panchla, Sundra, Kelnor, Janpalia and Bakhasar locust presence of density of 225 to 450 adults per sq km isdetected. Similarly, in five localities of Bikaner district in Rajasthan namely, Lunkaransar, Sejrasar, Kalu, Garabdesar locust presence of density of 75 to 450 adults per square km is detected.

The locust situation bulletin also indicated that locust breeding may also occur in other scheduled desert areas of Rajasthan and Gujarat due to unprecedented rainfall.

Pests & diseases:

According to the crop weather watch group of the union agriculture ministry, at present pests and plant disease are reported to be at low ebb as the kharif crops are still being sown. However, pests including whitefly/heliothis have been encountered at trace level in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. As regards cotton crop sown in the northern belt of the country like Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan, preventive measures in form of disease/pest tolerant varieties as well as agronomy practices have been recommended. To control future build-up of early shoot borer on sugarcane, the union agricultureministry has sent a team of experts to Uttar Pradesh and other states for assessing the situation and for advicing preventive measures to the state agriculture departments.

Rice:

As per reports available in Krishi Bhavan, nursery raising for kharif rice is in progress in different parts of the country where assured irrigation is available. Transplanting of paddy has also begun in Assam, Haryana, Punjab and Kerala.

Coarse cereals:

The sowing of jowar and ragi is in progress in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. However, in Karnataka, there is a likelihood of setback in coverage of jowar to the extent of 60,000 hectre. This is due to shift to maize and sunflower cultivation.

The sowing of bajra has also started in Rajasthan and Haryana. Rajasthan has reported a coverage of 13.9 lakh hectre as against the coverage of 13.25 lakh hectre in the previous year. Haryana has reported a coverage of 3.80 lakh hectre under bajra as against a coverage of 5.56 lakh hectre in the previous year.

Sowing ofmaize has been reported from Haryana, Orissa and Rajasthan.

Pulses:

The sowing of kharif pulses has commenced in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka and Rajasthan with the onset of monsoon. The coverage under kharif pulses in these states is reported to be satisfactory.

Oilseeds:

Sowing of kharif oilseed crops has commenced in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu. Sowing of groungnut is reported to be better in Gujarat though lagging behing in Karnataka.

Cotton:

Sowing of cotton is in progress in various parts of the country under irrigated conditions and a coverage of 6.00, 6.30 and 6.03 lakh hectre has been reported respectively in Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan as against the normal coverage of 6.444, 5.89 and 5.37 lakh hectre.

Jute & mesta:

The sowing of jute has been completed. As per available reports, the total area coverage under jute is assessed at 6.84 lakh hectre. The condition of the early sown jute crop is satisfactory andinterculture operations are in progress. Sowing of mesta is in progress in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Orissa and Tripura.

Sugarcane:

The planting of sugarcane is completed in northern states whereas in southern states, the planting of adsali crop is in progress.

Horticulture crops:

The crop prospects of apple in Himachal Pradesh is satisfactory whereas in hilly areas of UP, the production is likely to be lower by about 15 per cent.