Kharif sowing up by 5 per cent so far

NEW DELHI: Area under kharif crops other than cash crops has increased by 5 per cent to 1,046.32 lakh hectare so far this season on account of good monsoon.

The acreage of paddy, a major kharif (summer-sown) crop, rose marginally by 2 per cent to 377.22 lakh hectare from 369.58 lakh hectare in the year-ago period, according to the Agriculture Ministry data.

"The total kharif sown area, as per reports received from States, during the week ending on October 4 stands at 1046.32 lakh hectare as compared to 998.70 hectare at this time last year," the ministry said in a statement.

Sowing of kharif (summer) crops begins with the onset of southwest monsoon in June, According to the Meteorological Department, as per the data collected from June 1 to September 25, over 47 per cent of the country received normal rainfall.

Overall the country received rainfall of 905 mm as compared to 864 mm- which is 5 per cent more than the normal rainfall.

The advancement in monsoon rains has pushed area under pulses to 106.51 lakh hectare as of now. In the same period last year, pulses were sown in 101.48 lakh hectare.

Oilseeds farmers also took up sowing in a big way taking advantage of rains. As a result, the acreage has increased to 194.93 lakh hectare, compared to 175.22 lakh hectare in the same period last year.

Similarly, area sown under coarse cereals has increased to 195.95 lakh hectare, from 177.92 lakh hectare a year ago.

Among cash crops, cotton sowing stood at 114.51 lakh hectare, marginally less than last year's level of 116.04 lakh hectare.

Sugarcane planting declined to 48.74 lakh hectare, as against 50.06 lakh hectare in the same period last year.

Area under jute and mesta has also declined marginally to 8.47 lakh hectare from 8.60 lakh hectare in the year-ago period.