India’s kharif area trails for almost all crops, except cane and coarse cereals

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Khareef is still growing most crops, except for sugarcane and coarse grains, on its way, but agricultural sector experts say there is no cause for concern.

According to data from the National Food Security Mission (NFSM), total coverage as of July 7 decreased by 8.68 percent to 353.43 hectares, compared to 387.01 liters in the same period last year. “Sowing is less than last year since the southwest monsoon came late this year. Farmers have postponed sowing waiting for good showers. But now with the monsoon catching up, sowing has begun,” said BK Singh, Director at BKC Aggregator Pvt Ltd & BKC Weathersys. In progress well.

El Nino concern

“Last year, the sowing started early. Normally, people look at the average and it does not reflect the real ground reality. The data in August will reflect the correct picture. Moreover, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted higher than normal rainfall in July. This would help cover the deficient areas and improve sowing, said S. Chandrasekaran, a trade analyst.

“There is a good improvement in seeding. So far, it has been good. However, we are worried about El Niño,” Singh said. IMD said the El Niño phenomenon, which leads to drought and lack of precipitation in the Asian region, is likely to start this month. “There is room for further improvement in sowing. Cotton sowing started in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana in June. Both states were suffering from a lack of rain. It may improve now,” Chandrasekaran said.

The lack of monsoons diminishes

According to the IMD, the shortfall in precipitation narrowed to 3 percent, though the Southern Peninsula received 24 percent less rain than normal. The eastern and northeastern parts experienced 16 percent deficient rainfall as of July 7.

On the other hand, Central and Northwest India – the major cropping areas in Khareef – experienced normal and 39 percent excess rains respectively. “You don’t have to worry about the central and northwestern parts because they have canals to help farmers irrigate their crops,” Chandrasekaran said.

storage level

According to Central Water Commission data, storage in 146 important reservoirs in different parts of the country as of July 6 was 51.064 billion cubic meters (BCM), which is 4 percent lower than the level a year ago. However, it is 10 percentage points higher than the average for the past 10 years.

But the level in major rice growing states like Jharkhand (-16%), Odisha (-10%), West Bengal (-46%), Bihar (-42%), Uttarakhand (-18%), Uttar Pradesh (-20%) ) and Karnataka (-32%) resulted in grain sowing during the late autumn period this year.

NFSM data showed that the area under rice declined by nearly 24 percent at 54.12 liters compared to 71.10 liters last year. Also last year, the lack of rainfall in these areas, except Karnataka, affected rice production, although the deficiency was more than made up for during the cultivation of rapi.

Erhar down 60%

Coverage of legumes was 25 per cent lower at 32.62 litres, with the area under the aarhar (pigeon pea) decreasing by 60 per cent and the aurora (black mattb) decreasing by more than 30 per cent.

Among the coarse grains, bajra and jowar seem to compensate for losses in other crops. Its area has increased by 60 percent and 44 percent, respectively, while the area under corn tracks has increased by 12 percent. Coverage of small grain millet also decreased by 44 percent.

The area sown with oilseeds decreased by 14.3 percent with soybean coverage decreasing by 26.19 percent at 35.63 liters, while the area for sunflowers decreased by 73 percent at 0.31 liters. Cultivation of other important crops such as peanuts and sesame increased by 12.9 percent and 35 percent, respectively.

Sugar cane cultivation returned to its area, which increased by 4.69 percent to 55.81 liters, while the area of ​​cotton is less than 10 percent, at 70.56 liters. Jute and mista coverage was reported to be 15.31 percent lower at 5.81 liters.

The cyclonic circulation over West Bengal and northern Odisha, which is currently over Jharkhand, should help farmers plant more in the coming weeks. IMD predicted heavy rains in the rain-deficient eastern and northeastern regions over the next three days.