Slow pace of sowing of Kharif crops due to weak monsoon rains

18-Jul-2024 12:30 PM

New Delhi. Although the data of the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) shows that during the current year, the country has received normal southwest monsoon rainfall so far, the pace of sowing of Kharif crops remains slow as compared to the years with normal monsoon i.e. 2022 and 2021. In the year 2023, the monsoon was weak and there was no good rain at the right time, so the sowing of Kharif crops was naturally affected. 

This time, especially the area of ​​​​paddy and pulses is lagging behind as compared to the years with normal monsoon.

According to the data of the Union Agriculture Ministry, till July 15 this year, the total production area of ​​​​Kharif crops reached 575.13 lakh hectares, which was about 10 percent more than the sowing area of ​​​​the same period of the year 2023.

Due to less and delayed rains last year, sowing was delayed and the area of ​​​​some crops was reduced. If the production area of ​​Kharif crops of the year 2024 is compared with that of 2022 and 2021, then it is clear that the total area is far behind.

In the year 2023, the monsoon was weak due to the outbreak of El Nino. The production area of ​​paddy till July 15 in the year 2024 is about 11 percent less than the year 2022 and about 25 percent less than the year 2021.

According to the Meteorological Department, during the current monsoon season, the major paddy producing states and areas - Punjab, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Haryana and the Gangetic region of West Bengal have received less rainfall than the average.

Similarly, a huge lack of rain is being seen in Jharkhand as well. As far as Kharif pulses are concerned, its sowing area is lagging behind the year 2022 by 9 percent and the year 2021 by about 6 percent.

There has been a decline in the production area of ​​Arhar (Tuvar), Urad and Moong in 2024 as compared to the year 2021.

Similarly, the sowing area of ​​cotton is also lagging behind this time as compared to the year 2021 and 2022.

It is also important to note that there are severe floods in some states of the country due to which Kharif crops are getting damaged.