1.8 mn hectares of farm land unsown in 2 major states

As the southwest monsoon continues to remain uneven in some parts of the country, around 1.8 million hectares are expected to remain unsown in Maharashtra and Karnataka as of on Wednesday, the latest assessment by the agriculture ministry shows.

Though this is minuscule compared to the normal area under kharif crops, which is estimated at 105.7 million hectares, it can expand if rains continue to remain less than normal in August.

“At the middle of the monsoon season and with 22 per cent deficient rainfall, it is likely that part of area under groundnut, pulses, jowar and bajra might remain unsown in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat and western Rajasthan,” the ministry said.

The department, in its mid-monsoon season assessment of rainfall situation and crop planning, said cost of production of paddy (the largest foodgrains grown during the kharif season) could increase due to more demand for energy for operating water lifting devices in irrigated areas.

It also listed a detailed crop-wise and state-wise alternative cropping strategy if rains remain deficient till middle of August. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), in its latest weather update, said monsoon deficiency till July 25 has remained static at around 22 per cent below normal.

Meanwhile, to check spiraling prices of essential commodities, the food ministry is expected to take measures such as sale of surplus wheat and rice through rations shops and open market.The food ministry is also considering relaunching sale of imported pulses and cooking oils through the public distribution system (PDS) with increased subsidy.

Sources said the Prime Minister’s Office had asked the food ministry to use surplus foodgrains available in its godowns to tackle the problem of a possible price rise. It has advised supply of additional wheat and rice in states which consume coarse cereals like maize, jowar, bajra and ragi.

The ministry has already allocated 55 million tonnes (mt) of foodgrains for PDS supply. Besides, it has allocated an extra five mt of grains to poor families and three million tonnes of wheat to bulk users.