Kharif sowing starts on slow pace

Has been planted in around 0.18 mn hectares of land, almost 22% less than same period last year

India's kharif sowing for the 2013-14 crop marketing season has started on a rather dull note because of delayed harvest of rabi crops. According to preliminary reports received by the department of agriculture, paddy (the biggest foodgrain sown during the kharif season) has been planted in around 0.18 million hectares of land, almost 22% less than the same period last year.

Sugarcane has been planted in around 4.03 million hectares, around 11.50% less than last year, an official statement released today showed. Jute has been planted in around 0.68 million hectares, as against 0.64 million during the same period last year.

"These are just preliminary figures and sowing will pick up once the southwest monsoon sets in," a senior agriculture ministry official said. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) southwest monsoon in 2013 is expected to be  'normal' with rainfall expected to be 98% of the long-term average during the June to September season.

Rains between 96% and 104% of a 50-year average of 89 cm for the entire season are considered normal, or average.