Kharif sowing rises to 109.7 million hectares with ‘above normal’ monsoon
Rainfall in India has been more than 7 percent above normal for two weeks
According to government data, Kharif sowing has reached 109.7 million hectares this season, surpassing the average of the last five years, a report by Money control.
As of September 17, the area under Kharif crops was 0.1 percent above the typical area and 2.2 percent higher than last year’s figures. Specifically, rice sowing saw an increase of 2.1 percent, amounting to 41 million hectares compared to the five-year average. However, the area devoted to pulses was 6.1 percent lower, amounting to 12.8 million hectares, the report said, citing data from the Ministry of Agriculture and the Central Water Commission.
The area under oilseeds and coarse grains exceeded normal levels, which may help ease price pressures. However, the planting of cash crops such as jute and cotton fell by more than 10 percent compared to the five-year average.
India’s rainfall has been more than 7 percent above normal for the past two weeks, with 29 states experiencing average to above-average rainfall. On September 17, rainfall was 7.5 percent above normal. Notably, five of the eight southern states and four of the seven central states received more than normal rainfall.
In contrast, the northern and eastern regions are facing deficits. Manipur has experienced the highest deficit at 32 percent below normal, followed by Nagaland at 29 percent deficit and Arunachal Pradesh at 27 percent deficit. Among the larger states, Punjab is facing a rainfall deficit of 26 percent and Bihar has seen a 25 percent decline from the average, the report said.
Low rainfall in Punjab has led to reservoir levels falling to 57 percent below average, while Bihar’s reservoirs are 10 percent below normal capacity. On the other hand, reservoir levels in other regions remain stable, with a surplus of 18 percent as of September 12. Reservoirs in the south are the fullest, with levels 35 percent above normal, followed by western India at 23 percent above average, the report said.
First publication: Sep 18, 2024 | 1:21 PM IST