New Delhi: Crop planting this kharif season has so far covered 3.84% higher area over the previous week but seen a 0.57% less area than that of last year.
Sugarcane and cotton have seen the biggest expansion in acreage at 9.07% and 16.71%, raising expectations of a bumper harvest. Sugarcane production fell last year by 12% than the year before.
The total sown area as on August 25, according to agriculture ministry data stood at 1,013.83 lakh hectare as compared to 1,019.60 lakh hectare at this time last year.
Total area to be planted this kharif season is 1,058.62 lakh hectares. Oilseed planting fell almost 8% and that of pulses shrank 3.8%. Other crops like coarse cereals and rice saw marginal fall.
It is reported that rice has been sown and transplanted on 358.28 lakh hectare, pulses in 135.96 lakh hectare, oilseed on 164.24 lakh hectare, coarse cereals in 178.85 lakh hectare, sugarcane in 49.78 lakh hectare and cotton in 119.67 lakh hectare.
Meanwhile, monsoon data showed rains were 5% below normal since June 1. India’s 91 major reservoirs held 22% less water than at this time last year, suggesting poor water availability for crops after the monsoon ends. At 79.925 billion cubic metres, these dams also hold 19% less water compared with the 10-year average.
Sugarcane and cotton have seen the biggest expansion in acreage at 9.07% and 16.71%, raising expectations of a bumper harvest. Sugarcane production fell last year by 12% than the year before.
The total sown area as on August 25, according to agriculture ministry data stood at 1,013.83 lakh hectare as compared to 1,019.60 lakh hectare at this time last year.
Total area to be planted this kharif season is 1,058.62 lakh hectares. Oilseed planting fell almost 8% and that of pulses shrank 3.8%. Other crops like coarse cereals and rice saw marginal fall.
It is reported that rice has been sown and transplanted on 358.28 lakh hectare, pulses in 135.96 lakh hectare, oilseed on 164.24 lakh hectare, coarse cereals in 178.85 lakh hectare, sugarcane in 49.78 lakh hectare and cotton in 119.67 lakh hectare.
Meanwhile, monsoon data showed rains were 5% below normal since June 1. India’s 91 major reservoirs held 22% less water than at this time last year, suggesting poor water availability for crops after the monsoon ends. At 79.925 billion cubic metres, these dams also hold 19% less water compared with the 10-year average.