Kharif sowing same as last year amid heavy rains: pulses fall by over 11 per cent

Mumbai: Kharif sowing has progressed at a slow pace in the week of July 28 amid heavy rains in most states of the country. The total sown area has been 8.30 crore hectares which is almost the same as this period last year. Kharif crops are grown on an area of ​​approximately 10 crore hectares in the country.

At the end of the week of July 28, paddy cultivation was 2.37 crore hectares which is 1.84 percent more than the same period last year.

After good rains in July, there is a possibility of a break after the first week of August. An impact on kharif crop production due to El Nino impact cannot be ruled out, sources in the agriculture ministry said. Most of the models are indicating low rainfall in August, in which case the planting done in June-July may be affected.

In the cultivation of pulses, the cultivated area of ​​Tuvar is still 16 percent less. A decrease of 14 percent and 7.07 percent is observed in sowing of urad and gram respectively. Declining production of pulses could be a matter of concern for India. The overall cultivation of pulses has been lower by 11.25 percent compared to this period last year.

Sources also said that the fall in production could increase the price of pulses and force India to increase its imports.

Among oilseeds, groundnut sown area has decreased by 2.60 percent while soybean has increased by 3.72 percent. According to the statistics of the Ministry of Agriculture, there is a decrease in cotton cultivation by one percent.