Rabi sowing nears end with higher area compared to drought year

Till January 20, rabi crops have been sown in 62.83 million hectares, 6% more than last year

As sowing of rabi crops reaches its last stage, the area covered is more than in 2015, but compared to the last normal monsoon year of 2013, the acreage does not show a significant rise.

Both 2014 and 2015 were drought years. This year, sowing is complete in around 98.4 per cent of the normal area. 

Till January 20, rabi crops have been sown on 62.83 million hectares, six per cent more than last year and around 34 per cent more than the average of the last five years. 

Wheat, the largest rabi crop has been planted in 31.31 million hectares, 7.25 per cent more than last year and almost 21 per cent more than the average of the last five years. In 2013, wheat was sown till this time in 31.36 million hectares, 0.55 per cent more than this year.

Mustard, the biggest rabi oilseed, had been planted in 7 million hectares till last Friday, 10.39 per cent more than last year, but 1 per cent lower than the area covered during 2013. Gram, the main pulses of the rabi season, has been planted on 9.83 million hectares, which is more than last year but slightly less than the acreage of 2013.

The outliers are minor crops rice and jowar, whose area is less than last year. The coarse cereals acreage is also less than last year, which could have an impact on fodder supply as much of coarse cereals is used for making cattle feed.

Despite initial hiccups, planting remained unaffected by demonetisation, but there are concerns over the quality of the standing crop because of inferior seeds, delayed sowing and improper fertiliser use.

The Centre has all along maintained that demonetisation did not have any impact on sowing of rabi crops. A paper floated by NITI Aayog member Ramesh Chand said that demonetisation would only dent its estimate of six per cent agriculture and allied sector growth in 2016-17 by just 1.05 per cent, while the farm incomes would get impacted by just 0.26 per cent.

Data furnished by the department of agriculture showed that during November 4-11, the area covered under rabi crops grew 80 per cent, which fell to 65 per cent in the subsequent week. Growth slowed further to 35.5 per cent during November 18-25. 

“As of now there is no impact on the harvest and the crop looks fine,” said Madan Sabnavis, chief economist at CARE Ratings. He said the crucial factor now would be the weather in north and central India during the harvest months. 

A warm winter projected for this year will show up on the harvest. Rainfall in January has been 30 per cent above normal, adding to soil moisture.