Kharif sowing picking up

Despite delay in kharif sowing owing to late arrival of south west monsoon, the shortfall in acreage is fast making up, as per the latest data from agriculture ministry.

As on July 18, oilseed sowing is down 16.3 per cent on year, rice down 26 per cent and cotton down 13.7 per cent. On the other hand, sugarcane acreage has risen 9 per cent on year, coarse cereals up 4 per cent and that of jute is up slightly.

Overall, the acreage situation has improved, an agriculture ministry official said,

Sowing of groundnut and soybean have both seen immense improvement.

OILSEEDS: Kharif sowing is down 16.3 per cent at 84.3 lakh hectare compared with 100.73 lakh hectares last year. This on-year shortfall is largely owing to delayed monsoon and intermittent rains in regions like Indore division.

Groundnut sowing is down 23 per cent to 27.8 lakh hectares compared with 36.3 lakh hectares. Late rains followed by heavy rains delayed sowing of the crop in Gujarat.

Currently, sowing has resumed in some regions in groundnut growing regions in Gujarat. Soybean sowing is now down merely 9 per cent at 43.99 lakh hectares compared with 48.5 lakh hectares last year.

The situation has improved drastically since last week. This is largely due to improvement in rains situation in central India, especially Malwa-Nimar belt.

RICE: Though started in most states, rice sowing, as on today, is down 26% on year at 90.64 lakh hectares. The data said major shortfall in reported in sowing in Orissa (12.68 lakh hectares), Bihar (4.85 lakh hectares). Rice acreage in Punjab, however, has seen an improvement since last week and is now down slightly at 22.56 lakh hectares.

COTTON: Cotton sowing is down 13.7% on year to 51.58 lakh hectares.

A major shortfall has been reported in Maharashtra's Marathwada region due to delayed onset of south-west monsoon.

However, the state government still maintains that the cotton acreage target of 3 million hectares this year on hopes that monsoon current in the region is likely to strengthen.

COARSE CEREALS: As on today, coarse cereals acreage is up 4% on year to 121.67 lakh hectares. Sowing has picked up across the country now.

Acreage of jowar is estimated at 22.52 lakh hectares, down 3.7 per cent and that of maize is down 12 per cent, at 44.96 lakh hectares. On the other hand, bajra sowing is up 36.6 per cent at 35.04 lakh hectares.

SUGARCANE: This year's kharif sugarcane acreage is likely to be higher on year following various state governments announcing a higher purchase rate.

Earlier, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar had expressed concern over the rising sugarcane acreage saying that soon India will be seeing a huge supply and will need to find ways and means to get rie of it.

As of today, kharif sugarcane acreage is at 40.85 lakh hectares compared with 37.39 lakh hectares last year, up 9%.

JUTE: The area coverage is reported to be 788,000 hectares compared with 769,000 hectares during the corresponding period last year.