Sowing in MP rises, despite rain deficits

Despite scanty rainfall in 30 districts, farmers in Madhya Pradesh have completed sowing in 9.3 million hectares, against 8.74 m ha last year in the kharif season. The state had set a target of 10.83 m ha this year. Normally, the kharif area covered has been 10.4 m ha.

While 17 districts have received normal rainfall, three had none at all. The latest data from the agriculture department shows cereals have been sown on 2.31 m ha against the targeted 3.2 m ha, with paddy on 0.9 m ha (target 1.55 m ha), maize on 0.81 m ha (0.85 m ha), jowar on 367,000 ha (375,000 ha), bajra on 131,000 ha (180,000 ha) and other crops, 95,000 ha (250,000 ha). Normally, the cereal sown area is 3.7 m ha.

As for pulses, tur sowing has been completed on 333,000 ha (target, 450,000 ha), urad 479,000 ha (525,000 ha) and moong 87,000 ha. Total pulses’ sowing has been done on an area of 0.91 m ha against the target of 1.12 m ha, up from the normal 0.95 m ha.

As for oilseeds, soya has been sown on 5.1 m ha against the target of 5.35 m ha. Groundnut has covered 181,000 ha against a target of 200,000 ha and sesame 147,000 ha against the 210,000 ha target. Total oilseed sowing has been completed on 5.44 m ha against the targeted 5.85 m ha. And, cotton has been sown on 620,000 ha, against the 650,000 ha target.

“We have covered almost 85.7 per cent of the sowing target till date and so far no report of crop damage has come from any part of the state,” a senior official said. Soyabean Processors Association of India said it expected a good crop this year but was apprehensive on the recently announced government support to pulses.