Now Reading: Kharif sowing 2.9% behind last year; oilseeds acreage up 3%
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Kharif sowing 2.9% behind last year; oilseeds acreage up 3%
As of July 31, kharif sowing covered 894 lakh hectares, down 2.9% from 920 lakh hectares a year ago, according to agriculture ministry data reported by Livemint. The Hindu Business Line reports…
The Story in Brief
As of July 31, kharif sowing covered 894 lakh hectares, down 2.9% from 920 lakh hectares a year ago, according to agriculture ministry data reported by Livemint. The Hindu Business Line reports that oilseeds acreage has risen 3% to 180.20 lakh hectares, driven by good July rains, and may reach the government's target of 206.45 lakh hectares.
Rice, pulses, coarse cereals, and cotton lagged, while oilseeds and sugarcane improved. Castorseed area fell 23% in Gujarat. AK Singh of IARI said favourable rains could help rice, maize, and moongbean catch up. July rainfall was 1% above normal after a 35% deficit in June.
The Indian Opinion
Sowing numbers are often used to paint either a picture of farm distress or a rosy recovery. The truth is mixed: overall kharif area is down 2.9% from last year, but oilseeds are up 3% thanks to July rains. Castorseed, however, has plunged 23% in Gujarat. The government's oilseeds mission may face a real test if the August rains falter and farmers shift away from oilseeds. Will the narrowing gap hold?
Sources (2): livemint.com, thehindubusinessline.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
