Pulses, Cereals and Oilseeds Big Winner as Record Increase Observed in Sowing Area of Kharif Crops

The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has said that the sowing areas of Kharif Crops have increased as compared to the previous year. It also said that compared to the previous year figures of 82.4 mm the country has received 108.3 mm of rainfall this year which is an increase of 31% between June 1 to 18 June 2020. 

The increase in the crops are as following: 

Rice: The area of Rice Production has increased from 10.05 lakh hectares to 10.28 lakh hectares an increase of 2% area. 

Pulses: The sown area of pulses has shown an astronomical increase from 2.22 lakh hectare area to 4.58 lakh hectare which is more than a 100% increase in a year. 

Course Cereals: Cereals performance is even better than pulses with its area increasing from 7.83 lakh hectare to 19.16 lakh hectare which is an increase of almost 144 % from the previous year. 

Oilseeds: But the top performer was oilseeds whose area increased more than eight times from 1.63 lakh hectare to 14.36 lakh hectare. 

Sugarcane: Sugarcane’s area increased from 48.01 lakh hectare to 48.63 lakh hectare. 

Jute and Mesta: Jute and Mesta were the only chief Kharif crops to show a decline in areas from 6.08 lakh hectare to 5.78 lakh hectare 

Cotton: Cotton also showed a dramatic increase with an increase of almost 50% from 18.18 lakh hectare to 28.77 lakh hectare. 

The figures will certainly bring some joy to the agriculture sector after the GDP figures also showed its tremendous growth even when all the major sectors collapsed. The NITI Aayog in its report “Doubling Farmers’ Income” had suggested diversification of crops as a means of maintaining the fertility of the land while also increasing the income of the farmers and the report also suggested that farmers move towards high-value crops apart from the main crops that they grow. 

Other factors like the oilseeds have been promoted as High-Value Crops and with the Malaysian India Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement coming to an end which now can pave the way for a better future for the Indian Farmer. 

The results are encouraging but we must also look at increasing the yield by adopting intensive agriculture so as to increase food productivity and ensuring a better life for the farmers.