Kharif Crop Sowing Surpasses 1,088 Lakh Hectares: Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare

The Department of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare has released the progress of area coverage under kharif crops as of September 8, 2023. The data reveals that the sowing area of Kharif crops crosses 1,088 lakh hectares in 2023 with the rice sowing area surpassing the 400 lakh hectares mark, the sugarcane area being at 59.91 lakh hectares, and Shri Anna/Coarse cereals sown at 182 lakh hectares.

Downfall in the Area Covered by Pulses (Data Available in Lakh Hectares)

Among the pulses Arhar, Urdbean, and Moongbean saw a downfall in the area covered by 2.69, 5.19, and 2.56 respectively in 2023. Only Kulthi saw an increase of just 0.02 lakh hectares in 2023.

Area Covered by Shri Anna cum Coarse Cereals in Lakh Hectares in 2023

Maize and small millet witnessed an increase in area to 83.33 and 5.24 lakh hectares in 2023 as compared to 80.97 and 4.93 lakh hectares in 2022, respectively. Whereas, other cereals such as Jowar, Bajra, and Ragi saw a decrease in area covered in 2023 as compared to 2022.

Area (Lakh Hectares) Covered by Oilseeds

Major oilseeds like soybean and castor surpassed their sowing area by 1.34 and 1.06 lakh hectares in 2023, whereas, Groundnut and sunflower went to in sowing by 1.57 and 1.3 lakh hectares in this same year.

Other kharif crops like Jute & Mesta and cotton saw a dip in the sowing area by 0.4 and 1.87 lakh hectares in 2023, however, sugarcane rose in the sowing area by 4.26 lakh hectares in 2023.

It can be observed that there has been an overall increase in the area covered by Kharif crops by a margin of 0.48 lakh hectares in the year 2023.