Kharif Harvest

A favorable monsoon, adequate reservoir levels and higher minimum support prices are likely to boost winter crop sowing and production

As the Kharif harvest season intensifies, crop prices may see shifts driven by increased arrivals, inflation pressures, and recent govt interventions aimed at stabilising key agricultural commodities

In the remote village of Kamimomi in Japan's western Okayama prefecture, a small group of rice farmers began their most recent harvest in sweltering heat, two weeks sooner than usual. The prefecture is called the Land of Sunshine because of its pleasant climate, but farmers working among the paddy fields and ancient rice terraces say that climate change is hurting the harvest of rice, long a cornerstone of Japan's diet. Last year, an exceptional heat wave took the water out of the rice, which became small and thin, rice farmer Joji Terasaka said. So I am worried about that this year because it will be just as hot." This year Japan experienced its hottest July on record, with temperatures reaching 2.16 C (3.9 F) higher than average, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. The globe has seen a 1.2 C (2.2 F) rise in average temperature since preindustrial times, and scientists agree that warming needs to be capped at 1.5 C (2.7 F) to stave off the worst effects of climate change.

Above-normal rainfall due to the delayed withdrawal of the monsoon could damage India's summer-sown crops like rice, cotton, soybean, corn, and pulses

The steady progress in the southwest monsoon has supported summer sown crops, finance ministry said in its monthly economic report

Wheat sowing almost ends with acreage of 33.17 million hectares in 2023-24

Initial production estimate of other crops too expected to be less than last year

Sowing of several major kharif crops, such as rice, arhar, soybean and cotton, continued to be below last year's level

The key factor would be timeliness, spread and distribution of monsoon rains even if the total quantum of showers is less than normal

The surge in wheat prices is despite the ban on exports of the grain, indicating a far bigger drop in this year's output

In the ongoing Kharif marketing season in Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Tamil Nadu, farmers have benefitted with minimum support price value of Rs 2,356.30 crore

India, which commands 40% share in the global rice trade, exported 21.23 mt of rice in 2021-22, against 17.78 mt in the previous year

They say lifting of ban is in the interest not only of farmers and consumers, but also processors and downstream industry

Wheat production declined by 2.5 per cent compared to last year-its lowest level in three years

Farm machinery and construction equipment major Escorts Ltd on Wednesday reported a 30% decline in total tractor sales at 7,116 units in November 2021.

While signing early-harvest agreements can be a good strategy since it signals commitment from both nations and kicks off trade in a small way, some experts believe targets are too grandiose

Arrivals have just begun, but data on initial weeks shows that prices have dropped after higher arrivals within no time. Now, the threat of heavy rainfall-led crop damage lingers

Rural demand is expected to get around Rs 11,000-crore boost from the record kharif harvest along with the marginal hike in minimum support price, according to a report by Care Ratings

Among kharif oilseeds, soybean and groundnut are the biggest in terms of both production and area under cultivation

India is working towards 'early harvest' agreements with UK, Australia, says Piyush Goyal