The Hindu Business Line : Record kharif coverage in soya, pulses, maize

Coverage in other crops such as rice, groundnut, tur, cotton and coarse cereals has also been better than last year, according an Agriculture Ministry note.

"The rainfall so far has adequately covered most parts of the country. This has facilitated normal to good sowing of major kharif crops," it said.

As on July 4, 65 lakh hectares (lha) have been brought under soyabean, a record surpassing the previous best of 63 lha during 1998-99. Last year, only 51 lha were brought under soyabean.

Nearly 70 per cent of the normal area of 57 lha under groundnut has also been brought under kharif sowing. The note said 127 lha of the normal area of 154 had been brought under kharif oilseeds, up 23 lha over last year.

In the case of maize, a record 61 lha have been brought under cultivation against the previous best of 59 lha and last year's 51 lha. In the case of jowar, 39 lha have been covered during this kharif against 37 lha last year.

The total coverage of coarse cereals is 190 lha against 146 lha during the same period last year.

Pulses, too, have witnessed a new high in sowing. As against the normal area of 104 lha, 112 lha have been brought under pulses cultivation.

Last year, only 82 lha were covered during the same period. In the case of tur, 29 lha have been covered as against 26 lha last year.

As regards rice, sowing has been completed in 175 lha as against 155 lha last year. The normal area under rice is 406 lha.

Cotton coverage has also improved to 65 lha against 59 lha last year. The normal area under cotton is 88 lha.

There has been a decline in the case of jute and sugarcane by 1 lha each to 8 lha and 42 lha respectively.

The Ministry also said there were no reports of any alarming locust or pests activity in the country.

But in view of the prevailing ecological conditions, that favour locust breeding, intensive surveys were being carried out.

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