Kharif sowing begins in Gujarat; Narmada irrigation water to be released from June 11

With the onset of Kharif sowing across the state, the Gujarat government on Tuesday decided to release irrigation water through the Narmada canal network from June 11 to support farmers during the crucial early phase of the cropping season.

The decision comes at a time when more than 1.73 lakh hectares have already been brought under Kharif cultivation across the state, while the monsoon is expected to reach Gujarat after June 15.

Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel approved the release of irrigation water through the Narmada canal system after reviewing available water stocks and crop requirements in a high-level meeting with senior officials associated with the Narmada project.

The move follows representations from Members of Parliament and Members of the Legislative Assembly from the Narmada command area seeking the early release of irrigation water to support ongoing agricultural operations, stated an official release from the government.

According to official data, cotton accounts for nearly 93,000 hectares of the area already sown in the state, while groundnut has been planted on around 55,000 hectares.

Together, the two crops account for the bulk of the Kharif sowing undertaken so far. A significant share of the sowing activity has been concentrated in the Saurashtra region.

Of the total acreage already covered, nearly 1.1 lakh hectares have been sown across 11 districts of Saurashtra, highlighting the region’s dependence on timely irrigation support during the initial stages of the cropping season.

After reviewing the available water stock in the Narmada system, the Chief Minister directed officials to release irrigation water through the canal network from Thursday, June 11, ahead of the scheduled date, taking into consideration the water requirements of standing and newly sown crops.

The availability of canal water is expected to help farmers continue sowing operations and provide critical moisture support for germination and crop establishment until monsoon rainfall becomes widespread across the state.

The Narmada canal network remains one of Gujarat’s most important irrigation lifelines, supplying water to agricultural regions across Saurashtra, Kutch, north Gujarat and other parts of the state.

The canal system plays a crucial role in supporting Kharif cultivation, particularly during the early part of the season when rainfall coverage is still evolving.

The review meeting was attended by Mukesh Puri, Chairman of Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited, Water Supply Department Principal Secretary Shahmeena Husain, Additional Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Vikrant Pandey, along with senior officials of the Narmada project and canal administration.