Higher temperatures, delayed kharif harvest slow down rabi planting

Planting of wheat and rapeseed-mustard, the two key winter or rabi crops, is yet to gain momentum due to a delay in harvest of kharif rice and relatively higher temperatures in key producing states of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.

As on November 20, wheat has been planted in a total area of 78.83 lakh hectares, about 26 per cent lower than the corresponding 107.35 lakh ha last year.

The normal area till November 20 for wheat is about 300 lakh ha. According to data from the Agriculture Ministry, in Uttar Pradesh the acreages were lower by 13.47 lakh ha, while in Haryana it was lower by 5.98 lakh ha, Rajasthan by 3.37 lakh ha, Punjab by 2.41 lakh ha and Madhya Pradesh by 1.72 lakh ha. “Temperature levels were high, so far, across key growing States of North India. Also, there was a delay in harvest of basmati rice that resulted in slower pace of wheat plantings,” said Indu Sharma, Director of Karnal-based Indian Institute of Wheat and Barley Research.

Besides, the poor water storage levels in several areas also contributed to the sluggish plantings. According to the Central Water Commission, the latest water levels in 91 major reservoirs across the country stood at 84.147 billion cubic metres, accounting for 53 per cent of the total live storage capacity. Current storage levels were down 23 per cent, over the corresponding last year, and 26 per cent lower than the 10-year average of 113.272 billion cubic metre.

“As temperature levels decline in the days ahead, we expect wheat acreages to pick up,” Sharma added. With the start of sugarcane crushing in States like Uttar Pradesh, more acreages are likely to come under wheat, where farmers normally plant the cereal after harvesting the cane.

Similarly, with oilseeds, acreages under rapeseed-mustard has been lower at 42.51 lakh ha, as against 54.07 lakh ha last year. Oilseed area in Rajasthan, a key producer of rapeseed-mustard, has reported less area of 4.06 lakh ha, while in Madhya Pradesh, acreages were lower by 3.13 lakh ha. Interesingly, acreages under sunflower and linseed have increased.

Till now, sunflower acreages stood at 2.11 lakh ha (1.83 lakh ha last year), while linseed acreage was up at 2.84 lakh ha (1.61 lakh ha).

Among pulses, the acreage under gram or chana was higher at 52.43 lakh ha against last year’s 50.22 lakh ha, with Karnataka, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh reporting higher acreages.

However, in Madhya Pradesh, the major producer of rabi pulses, acreage was lower by 7.50 lakh ha and in Rajasthan by 3.37 lakh ha. The acreage under coarse cereals also registered an increase, driven mainly by higher acreage under jowar at 31.48 lakh ha (23.29 lakh ha). Even rabi maize has seen an increase in acreage at 4.28 lakh ha (3.56 lakh ha).