Strong increase in area of Kharif crops due to good rains and high prices
29-Jun-2024 12:49 PM
New Delhi. Due to good rains in the southwest monsoon, increase in the minimum support price and favorable market prices, Indian farmers are showing great interest in the cultivation of Kharif crops. The latest data of the Union Agriculture Ministry shows that during the current year,
till June 28, the total production area of Kharif crops at the national level reached 240.72 lakh hectares, which is 59.12 lakh hectares more than the sowing area of 181.60 lakh hectares during the same period last year.
During the period under review, the production area of pulses jumped from 8.02 lakh hectares to 22.54 lakh hectares, sowing area of oilseeds increased from 16.81 lakh hectares to 42.95 lakh hectares,
area under sugarcane improved from 55.45 lakh hectares to 56.88 lakh hectares and area under cotton increased from 36.30 lakh hectares to 59.13 lakh hectares. On the other hand,
during the same period, the production area under paddy slipped from 22.77 lakh hectares to 22.73 lakh hectares and the sowing area under coarse cereals and Sri Anna fell from 36.23 lakh hectares to 30.89 lakh hectares.
In the pulses crop category, the production area under Tuvar jumped from 84 thousand hectares to 13.02 lakh hectares during the current Kharif season as compared to last year.
This is not unexpected. Due to the market price being at a very high level, a strong increase in the remaining production of Tuvar is already being estimated this time.
If the weather and monsoon remain favorable, the area of Tuvar can reach a new record level this time. Apart from Tuvar,
the sowing area of Urad increased from 51 thousand Hatkair to 3.18 lakh hectares and the area of groundnut improved from 4.57 lakh hectares to 5.11 lakh hectares.
In oilseed crops, although the sowing area of groundnut decreased from 14.56 lakh hectares to 8.19 lakh hectares,
but the production area of soybean jumped from 1.63 lakh hectares to 33.66 lakh hectares. Cultivation of other oilseed crops is still done in a limited area.
In coarse grains, although the sowing area of maize jumped from 8.10 lakh hectares to 23.53 lakh hectares this time. But the area of millet fell from 25.67 lakh hectares to 4.09 lakh hectares. There has also been some increase in the area under sorghum, all and stock millets.