Karnataka eyes higher area under cereals, pulses during this kharif season

Karnataka may witness an increase in the areas under cultivation of cereals such as rice and ragi and pulses such as tur in the current Khareef 2023 season. The total area under Kharif crops is set to be higher at 82.35 thousand hectares (80.40 lakh hectares).

The Karnataka State Ministry of Agriculture has targeted an increase in the area under cereals and pulses. The state is looking to increase the area cultivated with rice by 10.59 lakh hectares in the fall of 2023, compared to 10.31 lakh hectares in the last fall season.

other pills

Similarly, other grains under which the state is targeting include more than 0.87 thousand hectares (0.62 thousand hectares in the previous season), ragi at 7.39 thousand hectares (6.42 thousand hectares), bajra at 1.94 thousand hectares (1.36 thousand hectares) and micro. millet at 0.37 ha (0.31 ha).

The area under corn is targeted to decrease slightly at 14.20 thousand hectares (14.65 thousand hectares). Given the fall in corn prices, the country may see a section of farmers switch to other crops. The total area for fall grain is targeted at 35.36 lakh ha (33.96 lakh ha).

In terms of pulses, the state is looking to increase the area under phase cultivation at 15.79 thousand hectares versus the area under cultivation in the previous season of 14.15 hectares. Karnataka is the largest producer of tor crop, which is grown during the autumn season and harvested during the mid-spring season. The prevailing bullish trend in turf prices may attract more growers this season. Similarly, the target area under the green gram is 3.99 thousand hectares (4.14 thousand hectares). The total acreage of pulses this fall is likely to be higher at 22.13 thousand hectares versus the area sown in the previous season of 20.38 thousand hectares.

Rainfall

The state witnessed actual rainfall of 86.30 mm, compared to 73.70 mm, during May 2023.

For oilseeds, groundnut area is seen higher at 4.04 thousand ha (3.72 thousand ha), sunflower at 1.30 thousand ha (1.72 thousand ha) and soybean at 4.10 thousand ha (4.41 thousand ha). Considering the prevailing downward trend in oilseeds, the total area is expected to decrease at 9.84 thousand hectares (10.10 thousand hectares).

Areas under cash crops such as cotton are seen lower at 8 thousand hectares (8.25 thousand hectares), sugarcane at 6.20 thousand hectares (7.18 thousand hectares) and tobacco at 0.81 thousand hectares (0.77 thousand hectares).