Kharif Sowings

As of September 6, improved monsoon rainfall has boosted Kharif sowing to 109.23 million hectares, the data released by the Centre showed

Data showed that till August 9, kharif crops had been sown in around 98 million hectares, 1.39 per cent more compared to the same period last year

Farmers have increased the area under paddy cultivation by 4.28 per cent to 33.18 million hectares, while cotton acreage declined in the ongoing 2024-25 kharif (summer-sown) crop season, according to government data released on Monday. The agriculture ministry reported that paddy sowing rose to 33.18 million hectares as of August 12, up from 31.82 million hectares in the same period last year. The increase in the paddy acreage comes amid forecasts of widespread rainfall across several regions by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). As per the ministry's data, pulses acreage marginally increased to 11.74 million hectares in the ongoing kharif season from 11.01 million hectares in the year-ago period. Oilseeds area remained relatively flat at 18.37 million hectares compared to 18.22 million hectares last year. Cotton sowing declined to 11.05 million hectares as of August 12 from 12.12 million hectares in the same period the previous season. Among pulses, pigeon pea (arhar) sa

Rajasthan is the top-most producer of guar with around 70% share in the country's total production of the crop

Monsoon enters weak phase; August 1-11 cumulative deficit at almost 29 per cent

Agriculture and allied sectors contribute around 25 per cent to the state's gross domestic product (GDP)

Area under paddy is down 26 per cent to 26.55 lakh hectare so far in the ongoing kharif (summer-sown) season amid slow progress of the southwest monsoon. The paddy acreage stood at 36.05 lakh hectare in the corresponding period last year, according to the agriculture ministry data. Paddy is the main kharif crop, sowing of which normally starts with the onset of southwest monsoon. About 80 per cent of the country's total rice production comes from kharif season. Area under pulses is marginally less at 18.15 lakh hectare so far from 18.51 lakh hectare in the same period last year, the ministry said in a statement. Shri Anna-cum-coarse cereals acreage has risen at 36.23 lakh hectare so far as against 22.41 lakh hectare in the corresponding period last year. Area under oilseeds has increased at 21.55 lakh hectare from 18.81 lakh hectare.Cotton acreage is down at 40.49 lakh hectare so far from 47.04 lakh hectare last year. Area under sugarcane stood at 54.40 lakh hectare as against 52.

As sowing of kharif (summer) crops almost comes to an end, paddy planting continued to lag behind as sown area under this crop fell 5.51 per cent from last year to 401.56 lakh hectare so far, according to the agriculture ministry. Besides paddy, there is marginal lag in sowing of pulses, oilseeds and jute/mesta. Consequently, the total sown area under kharif crops declined 1.24 per cent to 1,097.57 lakh hectares so far this kharif season, as against 1,111.36 lakh hectares in the year-ago period, it said. Sowing of kharif crops had begun with the onset of southwest monsoon from June. Harvesting of some kharif crops has started and will be in full swing from October. Releasing the latest sowing update, the agriculture ministry said area planted to paddy remained lower by 5.51 per cent at 401.56 lakh hectares (ha) so far this kharif season of the 2022-23 crop year (July-June), as against 425 lakh hectares in the year-ago period. Less coverage in paddy area was reported from Jharkhand

The restrictions were placed, because sowing has not been up to expectations on account of irregularities in rainfall

Data from Agriculture Ministry showed that as of July 15, the paddy sowing was down by 17.4% to 128.50 lakh hectares this Kharif season as against 155.53 LH in corresponding period of previous year

Experts say a fall in paddy output could hugely impact cereal prices going forward as wheat stocks in central pool aren't enough to quell any surge in prices

Till last week, area sown to total kharif crops was down 9.27 per cent at 406.66 lakh hectare as compared to the year-ago period.

IMD's latest update says active monsoon conditions over central India and along the west coast could continue for five days starting. It sees a rise in rainfall over Northwest India on July 9-10

Farmers might shift from soy, cotton and maize if rainfall doesn't improve sufficiently, analysts say

IMD accepted that actual rainfall in July and August was outside its forecast as the spread of low-pressure areas was uneven, though the total quantum was lower than last year

Acreage under rice, moong, ragi, groundnut, soybean, and nigerseed has seen the maximum increase

Oilseeds like groundnut and soyabean and other crops led by cotton are largely sown in Kutch and Saurashtra regions of Gujarat

The steady monsoon progress has spurred sowing of kharif crops and till last week, acreage was almost 21 per cent more than the same period last

In June, the first month of the season, rainfall over north India was 4 per cent above normal, which was the lowest among the four major subdivisions.

Agriculture was expected to be the only silver lining in the economy in the current financial year