Now Reading: Kharif sowing remains 2.9% below last year despite monsoon revival
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Kharif sowing remains 2.9% below last year despite monsoon revival
Kharif sowing remains 2.9% below last year despite monsoon revival
Farmers had planted kharif crops across 89.4 million hectares by 31 July, 2.65 million hectares below last year’s 92 million hectares, Agriculture Ministry data showed. The shortfall has narrowed after India received…
The Story in Brief
Farmers had planted kharif crops across 89.4 million hectares by 31 July, 2.65 million hectares below last year’s 92 million hectares, Agriculture Ministry data showed. The shortfall has narrowed after India received 1% above-normal rainfall in July, following a 35% deficit in June. July rainfall totalled 283.3 mm against the long-period average of 280.5 mm.
Rice, pulses, coarse cereals and cotton remained behind last year’s acreage. Rice sowing fell to 30.14 million hectares and pulses to 9.5 million hectares. Coarse cereals covered 15.7 million hectares. Oilseed and sugarcane acreage increased. Former IARI director AK Singh said favourable rain could help rice, maize and moongbean acreage catch up before the sowing window closes.
The Indian Opinion
The easy story is either that the monsoon has failed or that July rain has fixed everything. Neither is accurate. Rainfall recovery has narrowed the gap, but key crops still trail last year, especially pulses and coarse cereals. The outcome will depend on rain across lagging states and how much acreage can be added before sowing ends. The next useful test is whether rice, maize and moongbean coverage closes the current gap of 2.65 million hectares.
Source: livemint.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
