Oilseed, wheat sowing up this year

Farmers have sown winter oilseeds on a larger area so far this crop year compared with a year ago, according to the latest government data.

Sowing area under seven oilseed categories like mustard, groundnut and sunflower is 9.8 million hectares so far compared with 9.5 million hectares last year, the data showed.

Winter oilseeds account for about 40 per cent of India's total oilseed output. Wheat sowing in India, the world's third-largest producer of the cereal, is at 27.2 million hectares against 24 million hectares last year.

In India, winter crops are sown from October to December. Harvest begins in March and ends April.

Higher wheat sowing has been reported from Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Gujarat. The crop's sowing has been progressing well in other states also.

Coarse cereal sowing has fallen marginally on year. As of today, 6.7 million hectares of land have been brought under coarse cereal cultivation against 6.8 million hectares a year ago.

Nearly five million hectares of land has been brought under jowar compared with 5.2 million hectares last year.

Maize sowing is also lower from the year earlier period at 688,000 hectares compared with 706,000 hectares.

Sowing of rice is lower at 753,000 hectares compared with 767,000 hectares a year ago. However, oilseed sowing, with total area under cultivation at 9.8 million hectares, is up 3.1 per cent from a year ago.

Mustard and rapeseed sowing is up year-on-year, which has lifted acreage of the entire oilseed category. About 7.1 million hectares of land has been brought under mustard and rapeseed compared with 6.7 million hectares a year ago.

Groundnut acreage is, however, down at 354,000 hectares compared with 475,000 hectares a year ago, due to delayed sowing in Tamil Nadu following rains.

While groundnut sowing has started in Karnataka, in Maharashtra and Gujarat the process will begin from February.

REAPING GAINS

Nov 1-Dec 30 oilseed sowing 9.8 mln hectare vs 9.5 mn

Nov 1-Jan 2 wheat sowing 27.2 mln hectare vs 24 mn year ago

Oct 1-Jan 2 coarse cereal sowing 6.7 mn hectare vs 6.8 mn