Kharif sowing turns around to rise 1.2% amid excess rain

Related Articles

Carbon Farming, Climate Change & Sustainable Agriculture

1 day ago

Balanced Fertilization and the Path Forward

5 days ago

Genetically Modified Crop

January 12, 2024

With aggregate rainfall in the country rising above the long-term average, Kharif crop sowing has picked up pace to lift overall levels 1.2% over last year by July 21, from a 2% deficit recorded a week earlier, spurring hopes of a relief in the pace of price rise of some food items.

Most significantly, the overall sown area for rice, which was lagging over 6% from last year’s level as of July 14, touched 180.2 lakh hectares by July 21, 2.7% higher than a year ago. The sown area for pulses increased over the same period, but remained nearly 10% below last year.

The sharpest decline among pulses’ sowing has been clocked in Arhar (-18.4%) and Urad (-9.7%).

Bajra crop sowing has surged the most so far, with the sown area rising 11.3%, lifting coarse cereals’ sown area by 4.8%.

The southern peninsula and eastern regions are still facing deficient rains and the distribution of rainfall needs careful monitoring along with sowing of Kharif crops, said Bank of Baroda economist Jahnavi Prabhakar.

Any shortage or excess might play a significant role on prospects of agriculture growth.

Kharif crop

Kharif crops are monsoon crops that are grown in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh during the Indian subcontinent’s monsoon season, which lasts from June to November depending on the area. Here are some of the major Kharif crops:

• Paddy (rice) is the most important Kharif crop in India. It is grown in all states of India, but the major producers are West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Punjab.
• Maize is another important Kharif crop in India. It is grown in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka.
• Jowar is a type of millet that is grown in the states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra.
• Bajra is another type of millet that is grown in the states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh.
• Tur (pigeon pea) is a legume that is grown in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh.
• Moong (green gram) is a legume that is grown in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh.
• Urad (black gram) is a legume that is grown in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh.
• Cotton is a cash crop that is grown in the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh.
• Groundnut is a cash crop that is grown in the states of Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.

These are just some of the major Kharif crops that are grown in India. There are many other Kharif crops that are grown in different parts of the country.