Despite trailing in terms of overall coverage, kharif sowing of most crops, excluding sugarcane and coarse cereals is off to a slower start. However, agricultural experts reassure that there is no cause for worry.
With apprehensions surrounding the imminent El Nino, which often leads to drought and deficient rainfall in the region, experts remain optimistic about the ongoing improvement in sowing. The forecast of above-normal precipitation in July by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) is expected to mitigate any existing deficiencies and bolster the sowing process.
Rainfall deficiency
IMD reports a 3% rainfall deficiency, with the southern peninsula experiencing 24% below-normal rainfall and eastern and northeastern regions witnessing a 16% shortfall as of July 7. Conversely, central and northwestern India, critical areas for Kharif crops, have received average and 39% excess rainfall, respectively. Experts reassure that the availability of canals for irrigation in these areas alleviates concerns for farmers.
The storage in major reservoirs across the country is 4% lower than the previous year but ten percentage points higher than the 10-year average. However, the decline in storage levels in vital rice-growing states such as Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Karnataka has impacted kharif rice cultivation this year.
Pulses coverage has dipped by over 25%, with arhar (pigeon pea) down by 60% and urad (black matpe) witnessing a decline of over 30%. On the other hand, bajra and jowar, coarse cereals, have shown a remarkable increase in average by 60% and 44%, respectively, while maise lags by 12%. Minor millets have seen a 44% decrease in coverage.
Oilseeds have contracted by 14.3%, with soybean coverage trailing by 26.19% at 3.563 Mh. Sunflower acreage has plunged by 73% at 0.31 mh. However, groundnut sowing has risen by 12.9%, and sesame shows a 35% increase.
Sugarcane planting has gained traction, recording a 4.69% increase to 5.581 Mh. Conversely, cotton acreage has declined by over 10% at 7.056 Mh.
A cyclonic circulation over West Bengal and North Odisha, currently positioned over Jharkhand, is anticipated to facilitate increased planting in the coming weeks. The IMD’s forecast of heavy rainfall in the rain-deficient eastern and northeastern regions over the next three days brings hope for a successful kharif season.