Kharif planting gains pace as monsoon progresses

As the South-West monsoon advances further into central India, sowing of key kharif crops such as rice, pulses and oilseeds has gained pace in key producing States.

Data released by the Agriculture Ministry show that sowing for the kharif season is down 7.4 per cent this year compared to the same period last year, mainly driven by a fall in acreage of coarse cereals such as jowar, bajra and ragi and sugarcane.

As of Friday, kharif acreage touched 91.61 lakh hectares (lh), down from 98.88 lh registered in 2014-15.

Acreage of rice, pulses and oilseeds, have risen marginally while coarse cereals such as jowar and ragi have witnessed a sharp fall.

Rice has been sown across 8.33 lh against 8.2 lh earlier while pulses have a recorded a 4.4 per cent increase to 4.51 lh as compared to 4.32 lh previously.

Coarse cereals acreage is, however, down more than 42 per cent, with 7.19 lh covered so far this year against 12.42 lh at the same time last year.

Significantly, the Centre had hiked the minimum support price (MSP) for ragi by ₹100/quintal earlier this week, from ₹1,550.

The MSP for jowar varieties and bajra were raised by ₹40 and ₹25 per quintal, respectively.

Though the onset of monsoon this year was delayed by about five days, the quick progress in last two weeks has resulted in 10 per cent rains above normal for the current season from June 1-18.

About 16 of the 36 meteorological sub divisions, accounting for 54 per cent of the area of the country, have received excess rains so far.

Meanwhile, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has said that the South-West monsoon — currently estimated at 86.5 mm, is likely to remain strong this month with another storm system building over the Bay of Bengal, which should bring more rain to parts of central and eastern India.

“Conditions are favourable for further advance of southwest monsoon into some more parts of Chhattisgarh, Odisha and West Bengal during next 48 hours. Conditions are also favourable for further advance into some more parts of north Arabian sea and Gujarat during the next 72 hours,” said the Met agency.

The IMD has predicted the four-month long monsoon to be at 88 per cent of the Long Period Average (LPA) of 89 cm.

An agency official, however, stated on Friday that rain is expected to be at 92 per cent of the LPA in July. Sowing of oilseeds has registered a marginal uptick to 2.79 lh from 2.22 lh while sugarcane is down to 41.58 lh from 43.92 lh earlier.

Cotton acreage has also fallen slightly to 19.66 lh from 20 lh at the same time last year.

Jute and mesta has been sown across 7.55 lh this year against 7.81 lh previously.

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