With the revival of monsoon rains and prospects of above-normal precipitation during June-September period, sowing of kharif crops is expected to surpass normal level, agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Tuesday. “So far reports of sowing are quite encouraging and overall sown area may exceed normal range,” Singh said.
Meanwhile, acreage of kharif crops including paddy, pulses, oilseeds, sugarcan and cotton has touched 13.78 million hectares so far, 10% more than same period last year.
Rice, the primary kharif crop, has been sown in 1.32 mha so far, an increase of 58% from last year. Officials said although early days for kharif crops sowing as sowing windows are available till September. Normal sown area for the kharif crops are 109.66 mha.
Only oilseeds sowing is lagging but is expected to gather momentum as the monsoon enters Central India, the key growing region.
Rainfall during June 1 – 24, according to the met department, was 124 millimeter which is 3.8% above the benchmark – long period average (LPA).
The met department last month had reiterated its earlier forecast of ‘above normal’ monsoon rainfall at 106% of LPA during June-September this year, but said June might see “excess” rainfall.