Area sown to paddy, the main kharif crop, has increased by 19.35 per cent to 59.99 lakh hectare so far in the ongoing 2024-25 kharif season, while there was a significant rise in coverage of 'arhar' and 'urad'. Releasing latest data, the agriculture ministry said the overall area sown to all kharif crops stood 14 per cent higher at 378.72 lakh hectare, against 331.90 lakh hectare during the same period last year.
Sowing of paddy starts with the onset of southwest monsoon in June while harvesting begins in September. In the year-ago period, area under paddy cultivation was 50.26 lakh hectare. Besides, the area sown to pulses also rose to 36.81 lakh hectare till July 8 during the ongoing season -up from 23.78 lakh hectare in the same period last year, the statistics disclosed by the ministry showed.
An official release said that there was a significant rise in coverage of 'arhar' from 4.09 lakh hectare to 20.82 lakh hectare. Likewise, area sown to 'urad' grew from 3.67 lakh hectare to 5.37 lakh hectare.
Among coarse cereals, area under maize rose from 30.22 lakh hectare to 41.09 lakh hectare. Similarly, area sown to oilseeds rose sharply to 80.31 lakh hectare so far this kharif season up- from 51.97 lakh hectare in the year-ago period.
Coming to cash crops, area sown to sugarcane increased marginally to 56.88 lakh hectare from 55.45 lakh hectare, cotton acreage rose to 80.63 lakh hectare from 62.34 lakh hectare, while jute-mesta acreage remained lower at 5.63 lakh hectare as against 6.02 lakh hectare in the previous year.
The official figures showed that the area under coarse cereals and 'Shree Anna' (millets) fell to 58.48 lakh hectare from 82.08 lakh hectare in the year-ago period.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast above-average rainfall for the overall June-September monsoon season. Though the rains came early in Kerala, its progress has been sluggish so far. In fact, many regions have reported below-normal rainfall.
