One lakh hectare increase in sowing area of Kharif oilseed crops
28-Aug-2024 06:12 PM
New Delhi. Although there has been a good increase in the production area of groundnut and soybean during the current Kharif season as compared to last year, but due to the decrease in the sowing area of sesame and castor,
the total area of oilseed crops could increase by only one lakh hectare. According to the latest data of the Union Agriculture Ministry, till August 27 last year, the total area of Kharif oilseed crops at the national level was recorded at 187.36 lakh hectares, which increased to 188.37 lakh hectares this year.
During the current Kharif season, compared to last year, the production area of groundnut jumped from 43.15 lakh hectares to 46.80 lakh hectares and the sowing area of soybean increased from 123.85 lakh hectares to 125.10 lakh hectares.
The area of sunflower also improved from 68 thousand hectares to 71 thousand hectares. On the other hand, the area of sesame fell from 11.60 lakh hectares to 10.70 lakh hectares,
the area of nigerseed slipped from 36 thousand hectares to 31 thousand hectares and the sowing area of castor seed fell from 7.70 lakh hectares to 4.70 lakh hectares.
Gujarat is the most prominent producer of groundnut and castor seed in the country. This time there has been a good increase in the production area of groundnut but the area of castor seed is lagging far behind.
There has also been a decrease in the sowing of sesame seed there. Sowing of castor seed is still going on, so there may be some improvement in its area in the coming time.
Even before the arrival of the new crop, the domestic market price of soybean has come down significantly, which has increased the concern of the farmers.
The central government may try to purchase soybean. There is a possibility of some damage to the groundnut crop due to torrential rains and waterlogging in the fields in the Saurashtra division of Gujarat.
Similarly, the soybean crop in some parts of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan is under threat from severe floods.