Sowing area under rabi crop has shown over 6% increase in the first few weeks of the current season on favourable climatic condition supported by adequate soil moisture left with extended monsoon reason rainfalls.
Data compiled by the Ministry of Agriculture showed that total area under rabi crop stood at 31.42 million hectare (ha) until the week ended November 22 of this year as compared to 29.43 million ha in the corresponding period last year.
The centre of attraction of the current season was the drastic decline in sowing area under sugarcane due to uncertainty over its procurement by sugar mills that faces huge financial loss. High cane price and marked de-linked sugar price makes sugar cane crushing unviable for sugar mills resulting into the possibility of crop diversion in favour of wheat.
“The extended period heavy rainfalls in October have kept soil wet until now. Sowing, therefore, is set to speed up in coming days,” said Naveen Mathur, Associate Director (commodities and currencies), Angel Broking.
Area under rabi rice, constituting around 15% of total rice output in India, jumped higher to 0.073 million ha this year as compared to 0.064 million ha until the end of November 22, 2012.
| Rabi crop area (million ha) | |||
| Crop | 2013-14 | 2012-13 | Variations (%) |
| Rabi Rice | 0.073 | 0.064 | 14.06 |
| Wheat | 12.747 | 10.164 | 25.41 |
| Total Pulses | 8.595 | 8.51 | 1 |
| Coarse Cereals | 3.62 | 4.17 | (-)13.19 |
| Oilseeds | 6.242 | 6.153 | 1.45 |
| Sugarcane | 0.147 | 0.37 | (-)60.27 |
| Total | 31.424 | 29.431 | 6.77 |
Sowing area under wheat, however, recorded a significant jump to 12.75 million ha until the period ended November 22 of the current year compared to 10.16 million ha by the same time last year.
Rabi pulses and oilseeds acreage was rangebound at 8.59 million ha and 6.24 million ha this year versus to 8.51 million ha and 6.15 million ha last year respectively.
Area under coarse cereals was down by a significant 13.19% to 3.62 million ha by the end of November 22, 2013 as compared to 4.17 million ha around same time last year.
