Summer Crop Sowing Speeds Up

12-Mar-2025 10:54 AM

Summer Crop Sowing Speeds Up

★ Summer crop sowing, which will conclude by May, has reached 37.54 lakh hectares as of March 7, marking a 21.1% increase compared to 31 lh in the same period last year.

★ Despite low reservoir levels in many states, sowing is progressing well.

★ Except for groundnut and some other oilseeds, the acreage of paddy, maize, and bajra has increased.

Crop Area Status (in lakh hectares)

Paddy– 27.13 (11.5% increase)

Nutri/coarse cereals– 2.88 (45% increase)

Maize– 1.97 (28.3% increase)

Jowar– 0.3 (earlier 0.07 lh)

Bajra– 0.53 (59% increase)  

Pulses– 5.02 (more than 2.05 lh)

Moong– 3.58 (168% increase)

Urad– 1.3 (106% increase)

Oilseed Area Declines

Total Oilseeds– 2.51 (4.7% decrease)

Groundnut– 1.55 (lower than 1.67 lh)

Sunflower– 0.15 (higher than 0.13 lh)

Sesamum– 0.78 (almost stable)

Below-Normal Pre-Monsoon Rainfall

★ Between March 1 and March 11, India received 38% less rainfall than average.

North-west India– 12% deficit

Central India– No rainfall so far

South Peninsula–41% deficit

East & North-East India– 59% deficit

★ Low rainfall may impact crop production in some regions.