UP kharif arcreage likely to increase 6.6%

Uttar Pradesh may witness a rise of 538,000 hectares in its kharif coverage during the current season to be 8.6 million hectares compared to 8.12 million hectares last season, a growth of 6.6 per cent.

Paddy, black gram, green gram, soybean and sesame have registered rises, while that of tur, groundnut and maize has declined. Kharif sowing starts from June, while harvesting picks up from October.The target for kharif and paddy acreage was earlier set at 9.23 million hectares and 5.9 million hectares, respectively, while the corresponding production targets were set at about 17.5 million tonnes (mt) and 13.5 mt, respectively.

“The recent rainfall will help kharif crop production in UP. However, early rainfall this year has adversely affected the sugarcane crop, especially in western UP, where humid weather has resulted in pest infestation,” said Kisan Jagriti Manch president Sudhir Panwa.

However, the actual kharif sowing in UP is lower than the targets set for the 2011-12 season. During 2010-11, paddy production was 12 mt. During 2008-09 and 2009-10, the corresponding figures were about 13 mt and 10 mt, respectively. Paddy was sown on 5.63 million hectares last year, while the corresponding figure for 2008-09 and 2009-10 was six million hectares and five million hectares, respectively.

This year, the Centre had raised the minimum support price (MSP) of paddy by Rs 80 a quintal. The MSP for paddy (common variety) and (A grade) was Rs 1,000 a quintal and Rs 1,030 a quintal last year, which is now Rs 1,080 a quintal and Rs 1,110 a quintal, respectively.