Deficient rains reduce sowing areas for Kharif crops

Chennai: A report by the Bank of Baroda stated that minimal rainfall had reduced the Kharif sowing area for pulses and oilseeds while affecting sowing rice also, IANS reported.

The report stated that the eastern region of the country continues to receive deficient showers.

It said, "Acreage of pulses and oilseeds have declined. Rice sowing is expected to be hit further. Out of 36 subdivisions, six have received deficient rainfall during this period, and six states are in the deficient zone."

But the southern states have registered the highest storage levels compared with other regions, which bodes well for rabi sowing.

Compared to last year, sown area of pulses (4 per cent) and oilseeds (0.8 per cent) has declined as of August 12. Within pulses, a significant drop in the sown area has been registered in arhar (11.7 per cent) and urad (4.6 per cent). Area sown for jute and mesta has also declined by 1 per cent.

In the last week, the total sown area of rice had also registered a dip. Meanwhile, the Acreage of cotton and sugarcane had improved by 5.3 per cent and 0.2 per cent, respectively, the report stated.

The Kharif sowing this year: cereals 37.4 million hectares (2021-22 - 40.2 mn ha), rice 23.2 mn ha (26.7 mn ha), pulses 12.2 mn ha (12.7 mn ha), oilseeds 18 mn ha (18.2 mn ha), cotton 11.8 mn ha (11.2 mn ha), sugarcane 5.5 mn ha (5.4 mn ha), jute and mesta 0.7 mn ha (0.7 mn ha).

According to the report, the data for cereals, rice, cotton and sugarcane is as of August 5 and for others, the data is on July 29.