Kharif sowing may rise marginally

Sowing of kharif crops this season may see a marginal increase. Pulses are expected to see a jump, while oilseeds and cereals could see slight slump in acreage.

According to statistics from the ministry of agriculture, the total kharif crop sowing is expected to be 100.46 million hectares in 2007-08 against 100.08 million hectares last year, up 0.38 per cent.

The sowing of coarse cereals is estimated to be 1.8 per cent lower at 20.72 million hectares against the last year's 21.11 million hectares. Sowing of jowar and bajra will be down by 1.3 per cent and 1.2 per cent respectively.

However, rice and maize are the exceptions. Rice acreage is expected to touch 37.48 million hectares compared with 37.21 million hectares, while maize sowing will increase to 7.36 million hectares against 7.31 million hectares last year. 
 

RAINING HOPES
Commodity	Acreage in million hectares
	2006-07	2007-08
Bajra	8.06	7.96
Maize	7.31	7.46
Rice	37.21	37.48
Sugarcane	4.45	4.52
Oilseeds	16.88	16.44
Pulses	11.47	11.55
Source: Ministry of Agriculture, KCSL-Research

Acreage of kharif pulses (tur and urad) will be up 0.7 per cent to 11.55 million hectares against 11.47 million hectares. According to traders based in Latur and Osmanabad, tur and urad output will rise owing to increase in acreage. "In the next 8-10 days (when the monsoon advances), the acreage would be clear how much sowing has increased," said Shankar Nadar, a Latur-based trader.

However, in Madhya Pradesh, sources said that increase in sowing of urad is not expected. "In tur, there is a possibility that sowing area may increase," said Suresh Agarwal, chairman, chairman, Madhya Pradesh Dal Udyog Mahasangh. Unconfirmed reports suggest that in states such as West Bengal and Assam, farmers have prepared lands for tur production.

Overall acreage under oilseeds is estimated to drop to 16.44 million hectares from 16.88 million hectares, down 2.6 per cent. Commodity analysts attributed it to farmers' move to shift to cotton plantations.

In case of spices, chilli and turmeric are being sown. Market sources said chilli's acreage may increase. There are reports that in Madhya Pradesh farmers are opting for more area and better yield this time. In 2006-07, farmers from the state got better prices though rates fell later.

However, on the turmeric front, sources said that sowing will decrease. "The way market is ruling at such low levels, it has discouraged farmers to go for turmeric," said Milan Shah, a Sangli-based trader.

According to Sudha Acharya, analyst with Agriwatch Commodities, Maharashtra may not see any visible decline in turmeric acreage. In other centres there could be some slump, but she ruled out any drastic fall in sowing.