Maharashtra kharif sowing at 60% of normal but massively behind last year’s numbers
Maharashtra’s Kharif sowing reached 86.92 lakh hectares (60% of normal) by July 13, trailing last year’s pace. Heavy rains damaged 6,673 hectares of crops. Nationwide, Kharif sowing declined 16% year-on-year, with lower paddy, oilseed, soybean, and cotton acreage, while sugarcane area increased slightly.
Kharif sowing in Maharashtra has covered 86.92 lakh hectares, excluding sugarcane, as of 13 July, accounting for 60% of the state’s normal kharif cultivation area, according to the state government data.
The pace of sowing, however, remains significantly slower than the same period last year, when 120.65 lakh hectares, or 84% of the normal area, had already been covered.
Excess rain damages crops across the state
The Maharashtra government’s preliminary assessment shows that 6,673 hectares of agricultural and horticultural crops were damaged due to heavy rainfall, strong winds and hailstorms during July.
Sowing picks up despite weather challenges
According to the state government, sowing activity has begun to gain momentum across several districts. In areas affected by heavy rainfall, farmers have started re-transplanting paddy, while crops that have already been sown are currently in the germination and early seedling stages.
National Kharif sowing also trails last year
The pace of Kharif sowing across the country has remained slower than last year due to the weaker southwest monsoon. Kharif cultivation, which usually begins with the arrival of the monsoon in June, has been affected this season as rainfall activity remained subdued linked to the El Nino effect.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, farmers had sown 531.25 lakh hectares of Kharif crops as of July 10, compared to 632.69 lakh hectares during the corresponding period last year, reflecting a 16% decline.
Among major crops, paddy cultivation stood at 114.69 lakh hectares, down from 125.53 lakh hectares a year ago. Oilseed acreage also recorded a sharp decline, falling to 117.83 lakh hectares from 149.18 lakh hectares last year. Within the oilseed category, soybean sowing dropped to 90.51 lakh hectares, compared with 107.72 lakh hectares during the same period in the previous season.
In contrast, sugarcane acreage registered a marginal increase, rising to 57.58 lakh hectares from 56.72 lakh hectares a year earlier. The area under jute and mesta also saw a slight improvement, increasing to 6.28 lakh hectares from 6.16 lakh hectares.
Meanwhile, cotton sowing continued to lag behind last year’s pace, with the crop covering 79.54 lakh hectares, compared with 93.95 lakh hectares during the corresponding period in the previous kharif season.
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Source : CNBC Tv18
