Area under kharif crop recorded at 1043.87 lakh ha as on Aug 20

New Delhi, 22 August ( Commoditiescontrol) Area under kharif crops recorded at 1043.87 lakh hectares as on Augusts 20, 2021, up 33.40 lakh ha from normal of corresponding week acreage of 1010.48 lakh ha, showed the sowing coverage data released by the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare on Saturday.

Rice acreage increased by 15.14 lakh ha to 374.03 lakh hectares against 358.89 lakh ha during the corresponding period of normal. The area coverage is less mainly in the States of Odisha, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh due to deficit/excess rainfall which hampered land preparation as well as raising of nursery beds for carrying out timely transplantation. However, all areas have been covered by monsoon rains except Odisha, said the Ministry.

Area under pulses increased by 3.11 lakh ha to 134.23 lakh hectares against 131.12 lakh ha during the corresponding week of normal. Area coverage increased in Urdbean by 0.06 lakh ha, Arhar 2.60 lakh ha and Moongbean by 1.72 lakh ha compared to normal of corresponding week.

Acreage of coarse cereals is 169.06 lakh hectares 1.35 lakh ha higher from the corresponding normal acreage of 170.42 lakh ha. The major reduction in the area coverage is reported mainly from the State of Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Telangana, Haryana and Gujarat due to deficient/scattered/erratic rainfall in the beginning of monsoon season.

Area under oilseeds increased significantly by 14.35 lakh ha to 187.88 lakh hectares against 173.53 lakh ha during the corresponding period of normal. The less area coverage is mainly reported from the States of Telangana, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh due to deficient/scattered/erratic rainfall in the beginning of monsoon season.

Sugarcane area increased significantly by 3.19 lakh ha to 54.63 lakh hectares against 51.44 lakh ha during the corresponding period of normal.

Cotton acreage decreased marginally by 1.01 lakh ha to 117.04 lakh hectares against 118.06 lakh ha during the corresponding period of normal. Less acreage is reported from the States of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Punjab due to deficient/scattered/erratic rainfall in the beginning of kharif season.

Actual cumulative monsoon rainfall received in the country is 575.9 mm against normal of 628.3 mm between June 1 to August 20, 2021 i.e. departure (-) 8%. Water storage available in 130 reservoirs in the country is 96% of live storage of corresponding period of last year and 99% of storage of average of last 10 years as per report of Central Water Commission.

It was noted from the statement made by the majority States during last video conference and Interaction made over telephone that the sowing of kharif crops can be continued upto end of August. Sowing of Kharif crops particularly Paddy, Urd, Moong, Sesamum, Castor, Nizer, Kulthi etc. can be continued up to end of August. In Gujarat State Castor can be grown up to 15th September as the State has been receiving good rainfall for last two days. In the State of Jharkhand sowing of Nizer, Kulthi and early Mustard (Rai) can be grown upto September as the State has been receiving good rainfall. About 97.28% of Normal area (Directorate of Economics & Statistics) coverage has been reported by the States as on 20.08.2021 which comprises Rice 94.54%, Pulses 99.21%, Coarse Cereals 92.09%, Oilseeds 104.36%, Sugarcane 114.94%, Jute & Mesta 95.25% and Cotton 94.70%. In general kharif sowing progress report is received from the States till end of September as the Kharif season is considered from June to September.

It is observed that compared to last week more than 46.79 lakh ha more area coverage under all kharif crops has been reported from the States. So, in all Kharif crops growing States sowing is still going on with occurring of monsoon rains in many States, said the Ministry.