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Early monsoon coverage has boosted India's kharif sowing, covering 35% of the normal area by July 5. Total kharif acreage is up 14%, driven by increases in paddy, soybean, and cotton sowing. Pulse sowing has also surged, although nutri cereals and moong acreage have declined. Maize and sugarcane areas have seen notable increases.

Highlights

Early Monsoon Boosts Sowing: Early onset and widespread monsoon coverage have accelerated India's kharif crop sowing, with 35% of the normal area covered by July 5. This marks a 14% increase compared to the same period last year.

Improved Kharif Acreage: Total kharif acreage has increased to 378.72 lakh hectares (lh) from 331.9 lh last year. This growth is attributed to early monsoon coverage, which occurred six days earlier than usual.

Monsoon Impact on Sowing: The timely and adequate rainfall in rainfed areas is crucial for kharif crops. Rainfall distribution and quantity up to July 20 are essential for maximizing sowing.

Significant Paddy Sowing: Paddy sowing has surged by 19% to nearly 60 lh, compared to 50.3 lh last year. This increase is noteworthy as paddy is the key cereal crop of the kharif season.

Soybean Sowing Doubles: Soybean coverage has more than doubled to 60.6 lh. Contrary to earlier reports, farmers have not shifted significantly to groundnut, as soybean sowing has increased.

Cotton Acreage Rises: Cotton sowing has increased by 29%, reaching 80.6 lh, up from 62.3 lh last year. This indicates a strong preference for cotton among farmers this kharif season.

Surge in Pulse Sowing: The sowing area for pulses, including arhar and urad, has significantly increased. Arhar sowing reached 20.8 lh, five times more than last year, driven by high retail prices.

Mixed Trends in Pulse Sowing: While urad sowing is up by 46% at 5.4 lh, moong acreage has declined by 28% to 8.5 lh. Overall, pulse sowing stands at 36.8 lh, a 54.8% increase from the previous year.

Decrease in Nutri Cereals: The area under Shree Anna (nutri cereals) has decreased by 28.8% to 58.5 lh. Both jowar and bajra acreage are lower this year compared to last year.

Maize Sowing Increases: Maize sowing has increased by 36% to 41.1 lh from 30.2 lh last year, indicating a shift towards this crop among farmers.

Stable Sugarcane Acreage: Sugarcane acreage has seen a slight increase to 56.9 lh from 55.5 lh last year, reflecting steady interest in sugarcane cultivation.

Decline in Jute and Mesta: The area under jute and mesta has decreased to 5.6 lh from 6 lh last year, indicating a reduction in these crops' sowing.

Conclusion

India's kharif crop sowing has gained significant momentum due to early and widespread monsoon rains. The increased sowing of key crops like paddy, soybean, cotton, and pulses is a positive sign for the agricultural sector. However, the decline in nutri cereals and moong acreage highlights the need for balanced crop distribution. Continuous monitoring of rainfall patterns and distribution is crucial to ensure sustained growth and productivity in the kharif season. This promising start bodes well for the country's food security and agricultural economy.

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