Kharif sowing completed in 91% area, cotton acreage up by 10% Sowing has been completed over 96.6 million hectare of land, marginally lower than the 99.8 million hectare sown by this time last year. New Delhi: Despite deficit rainfall in half the country, sowing of Kharif crops is nearing last year’s coverage. Sowing has been completed over 96.6 million hectare (ha) of land, marginally lower than the 99.8 million ha sown by this time last year, the farm ministry said on Friday. At the beginning of August, sowing was 14% below last season’s figure. Normally, the sowing area for Kharif, the country’s main agricultural season which depends on monsoon rainfall, is 105.9 million ha. A delayed onset of monsoon had impacted sowing of crops in June and July but picked up pace with the narrowing of the rainfall deficit in August. Rice has been sown on 35 million ha, crossing last year’s acreage of 34.9 million ha. The area under cotton, at 12.2 million ha, shows an increase of 9.7% compared with the area sown by this time last year. However, the area sown under coarse cereals, oilseeds and pulses shows a dip of 10.4%, 7.8% and 5.2% respectively. On 29 August, the overall monsoon deficit for the entire country had narrowed down to 18% of the long-period average. June had recorded a deficit of 43%, triggering fears of a drought. However, 13 of the 36 meteorological subdivisions in the country are experiencing monsoon deficits ranging between 20% and 59%, while two subdivisions have recorded scanty rainfall with a seasonal deficit of over 60%. In view of the deficit monsoon in different parts of the country, the central government on 7 August declared diesel subsidy for farmers in areas facing over 50% rainfall deficit. Besides raising the subsidy ceiling to buy seeds for resowing, the union government has also announced a special package of Rs35,000 per ha for horticulture farmers, and Rs100 crore for additional fodder development programme to ensure availability of fodder.
Posted on: Sat, 30 Aug 2014 05:59:37 +0000
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