Above-normal monsoon rains have encouraged farmers to sow kharif crops in more areas this year compared to last year. The acreage this time has surpassed the previous year’s figures in paddy, Shree anna, oilseeds and sugarcane cultivation. It is due to widespread rainfall, the overall area under various Kharif crops has been higher so far this year -at over 1104 lakh hectares against 1088 lakh hectares in the corresponding period last year.
According to data released by the Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare till September 23, the area under paddy sowing has been 413 lakh hectares compared to 404 lakh hectares during the corresponding period of last year.
Paddy is the main kharif crop. Dependent on rains, its sowing commences with the start of the southwest monsoon in June, while harvesting begins in September.
The ministry said 128.58 lakh hectare area coverage under pulses has been reported, compared to 119.28 lakh hectare during the same period last year, while in the case of coarse cereals, 192.55 lakh hectares have been brought under cultivation this year compared to 186.07 lakh hectares during the corresponding period of last year.
In an official release, the ministry reported 193.32 lakh hectare coverage under oilseeds, compared to 190.92 lakh hectare during the corresponding period of last year. Likewise, 57.68 lakh hectares have been brought under sugarcane cultivation so far this year against 57.11 lakh ha during the corresponding period of last year.
