Despite the monsoon gathering momentum in August, sowing of most kharif crops continued to lag with the shortfall being more pronounced in coarse cereals, oilseeds (barring soyabean) and pulses (barring urad).
According to the latest data from the India Meteorological Department, the cumulative deficit for the current season from June 1-August 30 has come down to 12 per cent against 19 per cent in July.
The monsoon turnaround in August has not fully helped make up the deficit in area under various kharif crops. Areas that have been affected by dry weather mainly cover the stretch from Rajasthan through Gujarat, Maharashtra (outside of Vidarbha) and Karnataka.
Coarse cereals
Farmers have so far planted only 167.87 lakh hectares (lh) under coarse cereals against 193.37 lh during the same period a year ago.
Among coarse cereals, the shortfall in acreage is in bajra, sorghum and ragi.
Planting of bajra trailed by 10 lh in Rajasthan, compared with last year, while Maharashtra witnessed lower sowing of sorghum.
Lower sowing in Karnataka has dragged maize and ragi acreage.
Pulse cultivation
Pulses have been planted on 97.7 lh so far. Moong cultivation has been affected in Karnataka and Rajasthan. Arhar (tur) planting, too, has been lower in Karnataka and Maharashtra.
Cash crops
Sowing in cash crops such as groundnut and cotton, too is lower as poor rain in Gujarat played the spoilsport.
Gujarat has seen a three-lakh-hectare drop in cotton acreage.
In sugarcane, the total coverage is 52.88 lakh hectares (46.72 lakh hectares).
Higher area is reported in all sugarcane growing States, except Andhra Pradesh.