Net Cropped Area under Kharif Crops Currently Above Last Year by 5.71%

Planting operations continue progressing on a satisfactory note in India. Above normal monsoons this year and meticulous efforts by the Government have helped farmers in undertaking the sowing activities quite comfortably. India will be witnessing a record coverage under Kharif crops as reported by the Agriculture Ministry. 

According to IMD’s weather report released couple of weeks back, there was excess rainfall in the month of June but deficit rainfall was reported in July. Meanwhile rainfall recorded in August was slightly in excess. The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India reported that as on September 18, 2020, the total Kharif crops have been planted on 1,113.63 lakh hectare area against 1,053.52 lakh hectare area during the corresponding period of last year. 

Therefore increase in area coverage till now is by 5.71 percent compared to corresponding period of last year. As on September 11, net cropped area stood at 1104.54 lakh hectare areas. So over previous week the total planted area has increased by 9 lakh hectares approximately.  

As per the Government data the Summer Crop Area sown till now is:  

• Rice: Acreage has increased by 28.26 Lakh ha roughly year on year. The government data revealed 406.97 lakh ha area coverage under rice as compared to 378.71 lakh ha, during the corresponding period of last year. 

• Pulses: In Pulses, total cropped area presently remains higher by 6.28 Lakh ha versus last year’s corresponding period. About 138.62 lakh ha area coverage under pulses is reported this versus 132.34 lakh ha, as reported last year same period. 

• Coarse Cereals: In case of coarse grains 3.53 lakh ha more area has been covered, as against last year. Latest data says that 182.17 lakh ha area has been covered under coarse cereals so far, while last year it was 65  lakh ha, for the corresponding period.   

• Oilseeds: About 196.78 lakh ha area coverage under oilseeds as compared to 178.10 lakh ha during the corresponding period of last year. Thus 18.68 lakh ha more area has been covered compared to last year.

• Sugarcane: Net cropped area reported us about 52.65 Lakh ha area versus 51.78 lakh ha, during the corresponding period of last year. Year on year this indicates an increase of 0.87 lakh ha, or roughly 1.3%.  

• Jute & Mesta: About 6.97 lakh ha area coverage under jute and Mesta as compared to 6.86 lakh ha during the corresponding period of last year. Thus 0.12 lakh ha more area has been covered compared to last year.

• Cotton: About 129.47 lakh ha area coverage under cotton as compared to 127.09 lakh ha during the corresponding period of last year. Thus 2.38 lakh ha more area has been covered compared to last year.