Kharif sowing so far lags last year’s by 11%

THE JUNE-SEPT RAIN-BEARING SYSTEM, WHICH WATERS 60% OF THE COUNTRY’S NET-SOWN AREA, IS DEFICIENT BY 8%, IMD SAID

A patchy monsoon continues to crimp planting of kharif or summer-sown crops, as the total area sown by farmers till mid-july, a period when sowing peaks, was down 11% from a year ago, official data show. Total acreage of kharif crops stood at 61.1 million hectare, nearly 11% less than the 69.2 million hectare sown during the corresponding period last year.

The June-september rainbearing system, which waters nearly 60% of the country’s netsown area, is deficient by 8% since its onset in June, according

NEW DELHI:

to data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The national weather agency officially forecast a normal monsoon, which helps farmers grow plentiful crops. This week’s forecast valid until July 25 has predicted “active monsoon conditions” across the country.

While rains were plentiful after their onset, recording 28% surplus up until the third week of June, the monsoon entered a hiatus around June 19 driven by unfavourable weather patterns. It has yet to recover fully. In July, the most critical month during the kharif season because it determines yields and crop health, rainfall so far has been 26% deficient. “When July rains are deficient, it first impacts areas with no irrigation,” said Jeet Singh Sandhu, vice-chancellor of the SKN Agricultural University, Jaipur.

On July 18, Union minister of