Lag in kharif sowing not cause for concern; will recover as planting still underway: Agri Min official

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Press Trust of India NewDelhi
Last Updated : Sep 01 2019 | 12:05 PM IST

Thecurrentlaginareasowntokharifcropsespeciallyriceandpulsesisnotamajorcauseforconcernassowingisstillunderwayineasternstatesandmanyflood-hitareas,accordingtoasenioragricultureministryofficial.

TheareasowntomostkharifcropswillberecoveredassowingwindowistillSeptember15andthetotalkharifoutputwillbeasperthetarget,theofficialadded.

Sowingofkharif(summer)cropsbeginswiththeonsetofsouthwestmonsoonfromJuneandharvestingstartsfromOctoberonwards.

Theagricultureministryhassettheproductiontargetforfoodgrainsatarecord291.1milliontonnesfor2019-20cropyear(July-June),comprising147.9milliontonnesinkharif(summer)seasonand143.2milliontonnesduringrabi(winter)season.

"Sowingareaislaggingmarginallyasofnowbutthatisnotacauseforconcern.ThetansplantingofpaddywillcontinuetillSeptember15ineasternstates.Inflood-hitareasofAssamandBihar,transplantingisbeingdoneinareawherewaterhasreceded,"theofficialtoldPTI.

Asperthelatestdatareleasedbytheagricultureministry,ricehasbeensownin354.84lakhhectarestilllastweekofthekharifseasonof2019-20cropyear,lowerthan372.42lakhhectaresintheyear-agoperiod.

Areaunderpulsesisalsodownat127.99lakhhectaresasagainst131.54lakhhectaresinthesaidperiod.

Theofficialsaid,"Thesowingofminorpulsesandshortdurationpulsesisstillgoingon.Theacreagewillbemore."
Askedaboutkharifoutputprojectionsbeingmadebyprivateagencies,theofficialsaid,"Therearemanyprivateagencieswhichhavestartedprojectingagricultureoutputbeforecompletingofsowing.Thegovernmenthasitsownsystemandwefollowthat.Weworkintheinterestoffarmers."

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First Published: Sep 01 2019 | 12:05 PM IST

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