The increase in the area (under gram) has resulted in some decline in the area under both wheat and mustard during the current rabi. But the decline in the area under these major rabi crops is entirely not due to the shifting the same in favour of gram.

For the wheat sowings the conditions have not been appropriate and the less of winter conditions this year may also result in some fall in the overall output, confirms P M Agarwal, Director of Agriculture. The total area may fall by around 10 percent to 20 lakh hectares.

Gram is sown when there is enough moisture in the soils as it is rain-fed, says Agarwal. Only in some districts of thestate the farmers have irrigation available for the gram cultivation. In the Bhilwara and Chittorgarh districts the sowing have covered the maximum area.

The total gram production expected this year may be around 17 lakh tonnes as against 15.3 lakh tonnes last year. The yield in case of gram has also improved with the farmers now using RSG 44, a new seed variety developed by the Rajasthan Agriculture University. The new seed variety is double-poded in nature having higher yields. The other varieties in use are RS 10 and RS 11. The seed multiplication programme is also underway.

For gram the support price announced by the government is Rs 895 per quintal but last year there was no procurement at all as the market price was much more. The current ruling price of gram in the market is Rs 1300 per quintal, informs Agarwal.

During 1988-89 the total area under gram was barely 7.50 lakh hectares which has now risen to 22.15 lakh hectares, registering a big jump. Due to the use of DAP fertilisers the yield hasnow risen to around 8.69 quintals per hectares from 7.50 quintals during 1989-90.

Agarwal says that looking to the cost of production the gram fetches a good return to the growers. This is the reason why the crop is now catching the fancy of farmers. Further the conditions prevailing in Rajasthan also ideally suit the gram cultivation.

The agriculture department has decided to arrange field demonstrations with the help of extension programme so that farmers are given the necessary technical feedback on raising the area under gram. New seed varieties are also being developed in Rajasthan so as to have higher yield.