The sowing of kharif crops – paddy, pulses, oilseed and sugarcane – have commenced on a brisk note due to ‘surplus’ monsoon rains so far. According to the agriculture ministry, area under kharif crops has crossed 43.74 million hectare (Mha), up 11% on year, as on July 4.
While sowing would continue till mid-September .
Paddy sowing because of the early onset of monsoon has been up by over 7% at 6.93 Mha on year while area under pulses including tur, urad and moong are up by 37% at 4.25 Mha.
Area under coarse cereals ae 7.71 Mha, up 21% on year while sugarcane area is up marginally on year at 5.51 Mha. Oilseeds – soybean, sunflower and groundnut are sown in 10.82 Mha, up 14% on year. Overall kharif sown area is 109.66 Mha.
With the revival of monsoon progress since June 16, so far cumulative rainfall during June 1 – July 7, according to the met department, was 254 millimeters which is 14.7% over the benchmark – long period average (LPA) or ‘surplus’ category.
IMD in May had reiterated its earlier forecast of ‘above normal’ monsoon rainfall at 106% of LPA during June-September this year.
Experts said adequate rainfall during July and August are crucial for boosting crop yield for kharif crops as well as ensuring that reservoirs are adequately filled.
The government has set a record target of 354.64 MT for food grains production in the 2025-26 crop year (July-June). However, this target for the foodgrain production is likely to be revised upward if monsoon rains are as per the projection by the met department.
The met department also ruled out occurrence of El Nino weather patterns which usually adversely impact rainfall, till end of monsoon season and may continue into winter of 2025. The prospects of adequate rainfall so far boosts hopes of robust agriculture-sector output for a second year in row. Kharif sowing accounts for about 60% of the annual crop production.
Monsoon rains also provide soil moisture for the winter crops.
This is the fourth consecutive year during which the monsoon rains progressed across the country well before the normal schedule of July 8. In 2015 and 2020, monsoon rains covered the country on June 26.