Kharif sowing rises by 45%

Increased precipitation under the south-west monsoon has helped farmers achieve 45 per cent higher Kharif sowing till the second week of July compared to the same period last year. The sowing acreage has gone up by 21 per cent.

As per data released by the government, actual rainfall received in the country was up 10 per cent at 338.3 mm against the normal of 308.4 mm as on July 16. In June it was 24 per cent higher.

Further, live water storage available in 123 reservoirs in the country is 150 per cent higher as on July 16 compared to the same period last year and 133 per cent higher than the average of last ten years.

Crisil finds that while some states like Madhya

Pradesh and Bihar have received 70-80 per cent above normal rains in June, in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Punjab the downpour so far has been seen against the low base of last year. Rainfall in June 2019 was 30 per cent below the Long Period Average and hence only 14 per cent of the total kharif season sowing could take place in that month last year. Crisil expects total Kharif sowing this year to be 2 to 3 per cent higher than the normal.

As on July 17, kharif crops have been sown on 691.86 lakh hectares against 570.86 lakh hectares during the corresponding period of last year - 21.20 per cent higher.

Sowing acreage of rice has gone up by 18.5 per cent- 168.47 lakh hectares against 142.06 lakh hectares last year. Pulses have witnessed 32.35 per cent growth at 81.66 lakh hectares and oil seeds coverage is up by 40.75 per cent at 154.95 lakh hectares against 110.09 lakh hectares last year.