Monsoon effect: Crop planting jumps 23.8 per cent in one week

NEW DELHI: Crop planting has jumped 23.8 % in the past one week, helped by heavy rains during the period, with the current overall planting stands 3.28% higher than last year at 692.98 lakh hectare, official data showed. The increase was largely seen in acreage of rice, pulses and coarse cereals.

Water levels in reservoirs have also risen significantly in the past month, providing more water for irrigation which is good news for farmers. As of July 21, the water available in the 91 important reservoirs was 54.419 billion cubic metres, which was higher than the 10-year average of 52.050 bcm, according to data from the Central Water Commission.

Rice currently covers an area of 183.06 lakh hectare, an increase of 47.7% from last week. The acreage has largely seen an increase in Maharashtra, Assam, Chhattisgarh and Punjab. This kharif season rice will be planted on 392.81 lakh hectare. Similarly, the area under pulses acreage rose to 26.9% from the past week, and 39.39% over the previous year in the same period to 90.17 lakh hectare. Planting of arhar has increased more than 53% from last year.

Higher planting was recorded in Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Karnataka whereas Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand had lower area under cultivation. Area under coarse cereals which includes maize, bajra, ragi, and small millets posted an increase of 23.4% in the past one week to touch 130.80 lakh hectares.

Oilseeds planting also saw a jump by 14.6% from the previous week and now covers 149.16 lakh hectare. Area under groundnut saw a significant increase from the previous year and has till date been planted on 34 lakh hectares. Planting of soyabean, an important commodity in the edible oil basket, has also increased and was planted on 106.06 lakh hectares.

The Met department has forecast an above average monsoon this year which is expected to boost the agricultural sector. Heavy rains are expected in several parts of India over the next week.