South-west monsoon boon for kharif crop

South-west monsoon, in its departure mode, has led to widespread rains across the country. "These rains should be good for the kharif crop, especially oilseeds, cotton and coarse cereals. The vegetation has grown and will be able to take in water and thus, help in soil moisture also," said Dr H P Das, director of agrimet division, India Meteorological Department.

The kharif sowing for the crop year 2005-06 (July-June) is over now. Delay in the onset and advancement of the south-west monsoon had initially led market to be sceptical about the crop output. However, subsequent rains have been good. Weather forecasts suggest rains to continue for the next three-five days.

As on 12 September, rice acreage is up 2.4 per cent on year, sugarcane 9.5 per cent, cotton 0.6 per cent, pulses 1.5 per cent, and coarse cereals and jute up slightly. On the other hand, total oilseeds acreage is down 3.6 per cent led by groundnut and soybean, while castorseed is up 14.4 per cent.

Coarse cereals: Sowing is slightly up on year to 229.11 lakh hectare. Acreage of jowar and maize is up slightly while that of bajra is slightly down. As per a report of Millet Directorate, Jaipur, the loss in Rajasthan due to drought is to the extent of 36 per cent of normal production in cereals.

Rice: Sowing is almost over, but figures are still trickling in. Sowing in Tamil Nadu is likely to be normal. Contrary to speculation about a likely shortfall, as indicated by a US Department of Agriculture report, the crop is seen better on year.

Oilseeds: Sowing is down 3.6 per cent at 168.46 lakh hectare, due to delayed rains. The current rains are god for the crop and likely to help reduce yield damage. Groundnut acreage is down 3.7 per cent due to less coverage in Andhra Pradesh (AP), Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh (UP).

Soybean acreage is down 2.9 per cent due to lower coverage in Madhya Pradesh (MP), the major soybean growing state. Further, the delay in rains had hit acreage in MP and is also likely to affect soybean yield. Meanwhile, soybean coverage has touched record high in AP, Maharashtra and Rajasthan.

Acreage of sunflower, seasmum and niger seed is down slightly while that of castor seed is up 14.4 per cent.

Cotton: While sowing is slightly better on year, the yield is expected to see a phenomenal growth, riding on the acreage under Bt cotton. The total acreage under Bt cotton during the season is 7.41 lakh hectare "" including AP (3.09), Gujarat (2.0), MP (1.35) and Punjab (0.50). Rajasthan crop may be slightly affected due to drought conditions.

Sugarcane: Acreage is 9.5 per cent up on year at 41.05 lakh hectare, but lower from normal acreage at 42.98 lakh hectare. Cane sowing is completed and harvest of standing cane is likely to begin early next month. Rajasthan crop may be slightly affected due to drought conditions.

Pulses: Sowing of arhar and moth has slightly improved on year, while that of urad, moong, kulthi and others is slightly lower. For arhar, acreage has risen in AP, Bihar, Chattisgarh, Karnataka, MP, Maharashtra, Punjav, UP and West Bengal.

For urad, acreage is lower in Chattisgarh, Karntaka and MP but is up in Bihar, Orissa and UP.

Jute: Acreage is reported to be 788,000 hectare compared with 769,000 hectare during the corresponding period last year.