Rabi sowing on course for 2005-06

Though acreage is high, the market expects output to be hit by bad weather in Feb-Mar

Rabi sowing for crop year 2005-06 (that is July-June period) is nearing completion and the scenario has been comfortable thus far, agricultural experts said. Most crops, wheat, rice, maize, coarse cereals, mustard and most oilseeds, gram, lentil and urad are better on-year.

Market is, however, sceptical about the crop output as weather in February-March plays a crucial role in plant development. "For instance, bad weather and pest attacks have affected wheat crop for the last 2-3 years," an expert said.

As on 6 February, barley acreage is up 18.05 per cent, rice up 16.45 per cent, coarse cereals up 2.29 per cent, oilseeds up 5.22 per cent and pulses up 4.63 per cent. On the other hand, acreage of jowar, maize and safflower are slightly down.

Wheat: Total coverage of wheat thus far has been reported at 265.47 lakh hectares against 263.83 lakh hectares during the corresponding period last year.

Higher coverage has been reported in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat and West Bengal. However, lower coverage has been reported in Madhya Pradesh, owing to lower coverage in Malwa region which did not see rains and faces a lack of irrigation facilities.

OILSEEDS: Sowing is up 5.22 per cent at 106.96 lakh hectares from 101.65 lakh hectares last year. The oilseeds acreage during rabi has significantly improved compared with last two years, led by rise in area coverage of rapeseed and mustard.

Groundnut acreage this season is lower than the normal, as of now, as its sowing in Gujarat and Maharashtra begins in February. Groundnut acreage is slightly up on year at 7.66 lakh hectares, from 7.54 lakh hectares but below normal 8.32 lakh hectares.

Acreage of sesamum is also lower than the normal as its sowing in West Bengal has just commenced. Sesamum acreage is slightly up on year at 1.22 lakh hectares, from 1.11 lakh hectares last year and below the normal (at 2.09 lakh hectares).

Acreage of safflower is slightly lower on year""3.61 lakh hectares from 3.87 lakh hectares last year""owing to less area in Karnataka and Maharashtra.

COARSE CEREALS: Sowing is up this year to 68.52 lakh hectares from 66.98 lakh hectares last year. Acreage of barley (8.24 lakh tonne) up while that of jowar (51.43 lakh tonne) and maize (7.06 lakh tonne) remains lower.

RICE: Sowing has risen on year by 16.45 per cent to 22.79 lakh hectares. The transplanting of rabi rice has started in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Orissa and West Bengal.

PULSES: Sowing of gram, lentil, pea, urad and lathyrus has improved on year, while that of kulthi, moong, cowpea, aware and redgram is lower. For gram, acreage rose in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, MP, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Punjab, UP and West Bengal.

For urad, acreage rose in Chattisgarh, Assam and Orissa.