Kharif acreage trails last year’s by 4.2 million hectares

Kharif Acreage Falls Short of Previous Year’s by 4.2 Million Hectares

Theindiapostdaily.com – Despite a more favorable monsoon season, the area dedicated to Kharif crops in India as of July 17 has dropped by 4.2 million hectares compared to the same period last year, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. This brings the total sown area to 65.8 million hectares, down from 70 million hectares reported in the prior year.

Key Crops Show Reduced Planting

The decline is notable across major Kharif staples. Rice, for instance, saw a reduction of 141,000 hectares, with farmers covering 16.6 million hectares this year versus 16.7 million hectares in 2023. Oilseeds also experienced a drop, decreasing by 863,000 hectares to 14.7 million hectares. Soybean and groundnut planting areas fell by 502,000 and 317,000 hectares respectively.

Coarse cereals, including Shri Anna, recorded a 1.51 million hectare reduction, with the total area now at 11.9 million hectares. This decline is attributed to lower sowing in bajra and maize.

Sugarcane Leads in Expansion

Interestingly, sugarcane remains a bright spot, with sown area reaching 5.7 million hectares—86,000 hectares more than last year. Cotton, on the other hand, fell short by 587,000 hectares, standing at 9.2 million hectares.

Weather Conditions and Expert Outlook

Although recent rainfall improvements have slightly reduced the overall planting gap, uneven distribution in eastern and central regions continues to hinder progress. Agriculture specialists noted that the sowing gap may further decrease if monsoon activity strengthens in upcoming weeks. However, prolonged rainfall shortages in key rainfed states could threaten oilseeds, pulses, and coarse cereals, potentially affecting crop yields and food price inflation later this year.

According to the India Meteorological Department’s monthly outlook, the nation is expected to receive below-normal rainfall in July, falling short of the long-period average by less than 94%. This forecast follows June’s status as the driest in over a decade, with south-west monsoon rainfall at 39.8% below the LPA. July’s rainfall totaled 99.5mm, compared to the usual 165.3mm.