Kharif Sowing Surpasses Last Year’s Area, Rice And Sugarcane Stand Out: Govt Data
Indian farmers have sown a total area of 1088.50 lakh hectares with various crops for the current Kharif season, as of September 8, according to the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare. This is higher than the 1085.81 lakh hectares covered in the same period last year.
Rice and sugarcane are the two crops that have shown remarkable growth in sowing area, indicating their importance for the country’s food security and economy. Rice, which is a staple food, has covered an area of 403.41 lakh hectares, up from 392.81 lakh hectares last year. The government has estimated a procurement of 521.27 lakh tonnes of rice during the forthcoming Kharif marketing season reflecting the significance of rice production in the country.
Sugarcane, which is regarded as a cash crop, has expanded its area to 59.91 lakh hectares, compared to 55.65 lakh hectares in the previous year. Other crops have shown mixed results, with pulses, oilseeds, jute, mesta and cotton witnessing a slight decline in sowing area, while coarse cereals maintained a steady level.
Despite challenges faced in the pulses category the total area sown with pulses reached 119.91 lakh hectares, although slightly lower than the 131.17 lakh hectares recorded in the same period last year, read the press release.
