News Capsule: Kharif Crop Situation — Rabi Sowing Begins
29-Oct-2025 09:48 AM
News Capsule: Kharif Crop Situation — Rabi Sowing Begins
★ The erratic monsoon pattern has dashed farmers’ hopes of a bumper harvest. Although good monsoon rains earlier in the season had raised expectations of higher production, heavy and excessive rainfall just before harvest damaged crops in several regions.
★ Significant declines have been seen particularly in Kharif crops such as cotton and soybean.
★ Due to the excessive rainfall, the agricultural growth rate for the December quarter is estimated to remain limited to 3–3.5%, compared to 6.6% during the same quarter last year.
★ Many farmers are being forced to sell their crops at very low prices due to poor quality. In terms of prices, soybeans are trading near their lowest levels. The Bhavantar scheme is in effect in Madhya Pradesh, but farmers in Maharashtra are still compelled to sell at lower rates.
★ However, the rains are expected to benefit Rabi crops — wheat, mustard, and chickpea. Rabi sowing is progressing faster than last year across most states and is likely to reach near-normal levels by the end of the season.
★ Similarly, Kharif sowing had advanced rapidly earlier this year due to the early onset of monsoon and initial rains. At that time, IGrain India had noted that the real picture would become clear only after sowing was completed — which has now proven true.
★ Therefore, it is important to avoid making hasty conclusions based solely on early sowing figures.