Good News! Amidst Farmer's Protest Rabi Sowing Increases by 4%

The area of agricultural production of Rabi has increased by four percent to 507 lakh hectares (lha) by Friday, in comparison to the corresponding week of last year, amid extensive farmer protests against contentious farm laws, says data released by Ministry of Agriculture.

At the end of the current week the region under wheat stood at almost 255 lha, up from almost 248 lha in the same week last year by a small 2.5 percent gain.

The region in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat has increased, but in Haryana and Rajasthan the wheat plantings have marginally decreased.

India being one of the largest vegetable oil economies in the World, after USA and China, 13% of the gross cropped area is occupied by oilseeds which accounts for 10% of value of all the agricultural commodities. India changed from net importer in 80s to a net exporters status during the early 90s.

However, it is back to net exporter of more than 40% of its annual edible oils. Good quality seeds are of great importance to achieve good crop yields. The oilseeding scenario in the country is presenting a dismal picture currently. The area of pulses lined with grams has risen to 131 lha by 9 percent.

In comparison with the previous year, Maharashtra, Odisha and Jharkhand registered higher planting. The sum of gram cultivation is almost 13% higher.

The region below oliseeds at around 74 lh marginally exceeded its usual range. The agricultural land of oilseeds is seven per cent higher than the same time last year. The rise was due to Mustard, whose area jumped to 67,67 lha by 9%.

On the other hand, the overall decline in sowing is reported by coarse cereals. The region below Jowar dropped to about 22 lha by about 5 percent. Cumulative mining of 134.06 billion cubic meters is being carried out at the Central Water Commission-monitored by 128 reservoirs.