The Hindu : National : Sharp decline in sowing of most kharif crops

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Sharp decline in sowing of most kharif crops

Gargi Parsai

NEW DELHI: Despite the revival of the south-west monsoon in the last one week in deficit States, there has been a sharp decline in the sowing of a majority of kharif crops, including pulses, oilseeds, sugarcane, cotton and coarse cereals over the last year.

What is worrisome is that the loss in acreage of pulses (tur, moong, and urad), as well as in sugarcane and cotton, would not be made up this season as the sowing period is almost over. There will be a loss not only in kharif production but also in productivity.

Contingency plans

Union Agriculture and Food Minister Sharad Pawar reviewed the situation with senior officials of the Ministries concerned and the officials of the India Meteorological Department. The Ministry is closely monitoring the situation and the States have been asked to be ready with contingency plans.

The meeting noted with concern the decline in sowing in parts of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. With the forecast of good rainfall in parts of central and peninsular India, it was decided to watch the rainfall and sowing pattern till mid-August.

Paddy cultivation

However, the sowing of paddy and soyabean has been higher than last year. The sowing of paddy this year is on 231.3 lakh hectares against 207.6 lakh hectares last year in the corresponding period. Soyabean acreage is 87.7 lakh hectares against 79.4 lakh hectares the same time last year. So far, the sowing of pulses is only on 71 lakh hectares, against 92.9 lakh hectares in the corresponding period last year, owing to water stress in parts of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

The cultivation of oilseeds is also lower at 144.3 lakh hectares against 146.7 lakh hectares this time last year. Although soybean cultivation has been higher, the sowing of groundnut has been lower at 41.3 lakh hectares compared to 44.4 lakh hectares in the corresponding period last year.

The area under coarse cereals is also much lower than last year at 151.4 lakh hectares. Last year, this time, it was 179.7 lakh hectares. There has been a shortfall in all major coarse cereals, including sorghum (jowar), millet (bajra) and maize.

So far sugarcane has been sown only on 43.9 lakh hectares, against 53 lakh hectares in the corresponding period last year, due to a sharp decline in the area cultivated in Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.

There has been a shortfall of nearly 10 lakh hectares in the sowing of cotton, compared to last year, mainly due to low cultivation in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra.

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