Thecurrentlaginareasowntokharifcropsespeciallyriceandpulsesisnotamajorcauseforconcernassowingisstillunderwayineasternstatesandmanyflood-hitareas,accordingtoasenioragricultureministryofficial.
TheareasowntomostkharifcropswillberecoveredassowingwindowistillSeptember15andthetotalkharifoutputwillbeasperthetarget,theofficialadded.
Sowingofkharif(summer)cropsbeginswiththeonsetofsouthwestmonsoonfromJuneandharvestingstartsfromOctoberonwards.
Theagricultureministryhassettheproductiontargetforfoodgrainsatarecord291.1milliontonnesfor2019-20cropyear(July-June),comprising147.9milliontonnesinkharif(summer)seasonand143.2milliontonnesduringrabi(winter)season.
"Sowingareaislaggingmarginallyasofnowbutthatisnotacauseforconcern.ThetansplantingofpaddywillcontinuetillSeptember15ineasternstates.Inflood-hitareasofAssamandBihar,transplantingisbeingdoneinareawherewaterhasreceded,"theofficialtoldPTI.
Asperthelatestdatareleasedbytheagricultureministry,ricehasbeensownin354.84lakhhectarestilllastweekofthekharifseasonof2019-20cropyear,lowerthan372.42lakhhectaresintheyear-agoperiod.
Areaunderpulsesisalsodownat127.99lakhhectaresasagainst131.54lakhhectaresinthesaidperiod.
Theofficialsaid,"Thesowingofminorpulsesandshortdurationpulsesisstillgoingon.Theacreagewillbemore."
Askedaboutkharifoutputprojectionsbeingmadebyprivateagencies,theofficialsaid,"Therearemanyprivateagencieswhichhavestartedprojectingagricultureoutputbeforecompletingofsowing.Thegovernmenthasitsownsystemandwefollowthat.Weworkintheinterestoffarmers."