According to the recent Crop Weather Watch Group of the Union agriculture ministry, only 6.5 lakh hectares were covered under jute crop so far as against 7.7 lakh hectares in the corresponding period of the previous year. As per estimates area coverage under jute is likely to be lower by about 20 per cent and the production. The sowing of mesta is in progress.

West Bengal is a major jute-producing state. The normal area in the state under jute is about six lakh hectares. Due to long dry spell in pre-monsoon period, only 20 per cent of the normal jute area could be sown in time and a vast area was either left for delayed sowing or to be left unsown. This area may remain fallow this season and may be utilised later for sowing aman, winter paddy.

COTTON: The area coverage under cotton in Punjab,Haryana and Rajasthan till date has declined by about 25 per cent. However, the total area covered under cotton crop so far is about 36 lakh hectares as against 29 lakh hectares in the corresponding period of the previous year. The cotton crop is in vegetative stage and no major incidence of pests and diseases have been reported from Rajasthan, Punjab and Karnataka. The normal area for cotton crop coverage is 89 lakh hectares.

RICE: The sowing of autumn rice in all the autumn rice growing states is in progress. The normal area under kharif rice is 39.5 lakh hectares. Of this, early kharif area is about 31 lakh hectares. The reported area coverage so far is about 38 lakh hectares which is higher than that in the previous year. In Punjab the pace of coverage has gained momentum. Madhya Pradesh has informed that the land preparation is in full swing while the sowing of rice has started in some parts of Maharashtra. In case of West Bengal, about 90 per cent of seed bed sowing is complete.

Rice crop isin nursery to transplanting or booting stage. Incidence of pests and diseases has been reported below the economic threshold level in Nagaland, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, J&K, Himachal Pradesh, Orissa, Bihar and Kerala.

COARSE CEREALS: The sowing of jowar, bajra and other coarse cereals has started. With recent monsoon rains, coverage under coarse cereals is expected to pick up. The area coverage under total coarse cereals is 20.47 lakh hectares as compared to 20.07 lakh hectares during the corresponding period in the previous year.

PULSES: There is encouraging trend of kharif pulses sowing particularly that of red gram (arhar). The progress of area sown this year is better than last year.

OILSEEDS: The sowing of kharif oilseeds has picked up momentum and 31 lakh hectares area is reported to be sown as against 24 lakh hectares sown in the corresponding period of the previous year. There is healthy progress of soyabean sowing in Maharashtra. The groundnut sowing is expected to gainmomentum after recent rains in Gujarat. Groundnut crop is in vegetative stage. No major incidence of pests and diseases has been reported from Andhra Pradesh. Coconut crop is in nut formation stage. No significant incidence of pests and diseases has been reported from Orissa.

SUGARCANE: The spring planting of sugarcane is almost complete. Nearly 95 per cent of the normal area of 40 lakh hectares has been sown. It is in tillering to stem elongation stage. The condition of the standing crop is reported to be satisfactory and the area covered so far is slightly higher than that in the corresponding period in the previous year.

OTHER CROPS: Cucurbits crops is in maturity stage. Tomato crop is in nursery to transplanting stage. Potato crop is in tuber development stage.

LOCUST SITUATION: No locust population has been observed. Vigilance is being maintained in scheduled desert areas of Rajasthan and Gujarat.

WEATHER FORECAST: Increased rainfall activity will continue over Bihar,sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim, northeastern states and western Himalayas. Normal rainfall is expected along the west coast. Rainfall activity is likely to be subdued in the remaining parts of the country.

SW MONSOON LIMIT: The northern limit of monsoon on July 6 passed through Barmer, Jodhpur, Sikar, Hissar, Bhatinda and Ferozpur.