Area under oilseeds increased 525% over last year and the sowing of pulses rose by about 222%. The planting and sowing of paddy, the main crop of the kharif season, has been 35% higher than last year
The final of a two-part series looks at how farmers are hoping a good monsoon will help make up for lockdown disruptions and losses
The first of a two-part series looks at the problems cultivators are facing during the pandemic
In the first 19 days of the four-month monsoon season that started in June, out of 683 districts in the country, rainfall has been normal in almost 74% of them
As many as 23 swarms of locusts had entered India from Pakistan and experts said they were unlikely to move out before July-end.
Farmers question calculation method, say returns remain inadequate
The government also approved an equity scheme for MSMEs worth Rs 50,000 crore
The farmers would be paid Rs 10,000 per acre for paddy, corn and sugarcane crops, based on the registered and procured area for the kharif season
Analysts have cut earnings estimates due to labour and logistic issues in India, demand and price overhang in international business
In addition, West Bengal will also request the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to increase the additional credit limit to MSMEs, to 30 per cent from the existing 10 per cent.
While farmers are likely to be hard-pressed for liquidity, other challenges include labour shortage and availability of seeds and agrochemicals
Labour shortages, transportation issues impede the movement from manufacturer to distributor and retailer
Shortage of labour with expertise to plant paddy has prompted the state to encourage farmers to grow less labour-intensive crops
With normal monsoon forecast this year, they want to take advantage of pre-monsoon showers
Will need Rs 35,000 crore to buy all the standing crops in the state
State has paid farmers nearly Rs 7,250 cr for the crop so far; full-year procurement target set at 5 mn tonnes
State is targetting procurement of 5 mn tonnes of the crop by Feb 2020
Substituting Kharif paddy with other remunerative crops (like cotton, maize, soybean, fruits and vegetables, etc suiting the market) is one solution, says Padhee
In Kharif, corn and veggies crops also helped
For millions of farmers in northern, central and western India, the excessive rain this monsoon season did aggravate problems but have also given hope of a good rabi harvest