Rain revival accelerates crop sowing, fills reservoirs

The sharp pick-up in the southwest monsoon since Monday has not only narrowed the overall rainfall deficit but given a boost to sowing of kharif crops, lowering its difference in comparison to 2013.

An official said if the same intensity of rains is maintained in August as well, it could wipe off much of the worries on crop acreage. According to data released by the agriculture department, till Friday, kharif crops have been sown in 34.56 million hectares, about 45 per cent less than the area covered during the same period last year.

Till last week, the difference between 2013 and 2014 was almost 50 per cent, which shows the pick-up in planting.

"The current spell of rains has been widespread and covered northern and central and some western parts of the country. I have been briefed that in the coming days, the monsoon will be satisfactory. The current rains will be helpful to the farmers in sowing crops," said Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh.

The impact of rains has been on sowing of cotton crop in which the difference between area covered in 2013 and 2014 has come down to 4.4 million hectares as on Friday from 4.8 million hectares as on July 11.

The deficit in rainfall between June 1 and July 17 has narrowed to 35 per cent, which by the end of June was 43 per cent, making the first month of the four-month monsoon season one of the driest.