Kharif sowing stands below normal at 131 lakh hectares as on 27 June

Southwest monsoon rainfall below normal in the month of June for four out of last six years

As per the latest reports of sowing of kharif crops, kharif sowing area touched 131 lakh hectares as on 27 June. However, the delayed southwest monsoon rainfall has hit sowing progress of kharif crops. The kharif crop sowing was sharply below the normal coverage of 158 lakh hectares as on date.

The southwest monsoon (June-September) rainfall at 41% below normal till 26 June 2014 has mainly impacted the kharif crop sowing in the current season. However, the monsoon rainfall was below normal for fourth year in 2014 out of last six years.

Kharif Crops (June-Sept) Sowing Progress as on 27 June<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

Crop

Normal*

2014-15

2013-14

2012-13

Rice

40.46

21.91

39.12

29.66

Pulses

2.10

4.30

10.52

0.00

Coarse Cereals

17.19

19.54

29.33

5.59

Oilseeds

14.02

4.79

60.69

11.82

Sugarcane

47.05

43.92

47.43

49.35

Cotton

29.28

29.07

55.76

31.38

Jute & Mesta

8.07

7.47

8.15

8.07

Total

158.17

131.00

250.99

135.87

Figures in lakh hectares, * Normal sowing as on date

Source: Ministry of Agriculture

The rice sown/transplanted at 21.91 lakh hectares stands sharply below the normal coverage of 40.46 lakh hectares. However, the pulses sowing at 4.30 lakh hectares and coarse cereals sowing at 19.54 lakh hectares was above normal coverage of 2.1 lakh hectares and 17.2 lakh hectares as on date.

The area under oilseeds crops at 4.79 lakh hectares was also sharply below normal level of 14 lakh hectares as on 27 June.

The planting of sugarcane and cotton is in progress. Sugarcane has been planted in 43.92 lakh hectares and cotton in 29.07 lakh hectares. Further, the area under jute and mesta stood at 7.47 lakh hectares as on 27 June 2014.

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