Kharif Planting Increases; Crosses 100-Million-Hectare Mark

With an increase in the water storage levels in reservoirs and due to heavy rainfall in Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, there has been an increase in the planting of the kharif crops.  At present the planting process is in its last phase. According to data released by the agriculture ministry on 31 August, Kharif crops have been planted on around 97 percent of the country’s arable land.  The total area planted in the current Kharif season has surpassed the 100-million-hectare mark. Moreover major crops have been planted on 1,022.87 lakh hectares this kharif season. The cultivation of oilseeds, rice and sugarcane has increased while cereals, cotton and pulses cultivation has gone down.

Although, rainfall this year is 6 percent lower than the normal still country’s 91 main reservoirs contain 32 percent more water than previous year at 112.083 billion cubic meters providing better water availability for crops after monsoon. As per ministry data, rice has been planted on 369.98 lakh hectares compared to 367.88 lakh hectares in 2017.  The acreage under pulses went down by 2.55% to 132.66 lakh hectares still moongbean was 6 percent higher. Also planting of arhar and uradbean decreased by 13 and 0.5 percent respectively. On the whole, acreage for coarse cereals declined by 3.85 percent. A major coarse cereal Bajra saw a decline along with maize and ragi. Oilseeds plantation went up by 2.5 percent to 171.3 lakh hectares.