Decline of 1.505 million hectares in Kharif crop cultivation area

New Delhi. Although the cultivation area for Kharif crops has improved and is now very close to the five-year average (110.5 million hectares), it still lags behind last year's figures by 1.505 million hectares. Specifically, there has been a reduction in the acreage of paddy, maize, moong, cotton, and soybean.

According to the latest weekly data from the Union Ministry of Agriculture, the total cultivation area for Kharif crops dropped from 111.825 million hectares last year to 110.390 million hectares during the current year (up to September 18). Within this, the paddy cultivation area fell from a record 44.592 million hectares to 42.928 million hectares, and the cotton sowing area decreased from 11.061 million hectares to 10.961 million hectares.

Conversely, the area for sugarcane and pulses rose from 11.794 million hectares to 11.965 million hectares, and the sowing area for coarse cereals improved from 18.463 million hectares to 18.579 million hectares. Regarding Kharif oilseeds, the area recorded this season was 19.476 million hectares, which is virtually identical to last year's acreage of 19.475 million hectares.

Among pulses, there has been a significant increase in the sowing area for Urad and Tur. Similarly, the acreage for sesame and sunflower has risen among oilseeds, while coarse cereals like Jowar and Bajra have seen a substantial increase in sowing area. However, the sowing of groundnut and castor has declined.