Kharif acreage almost at last year’s level

Monsoon to become active again after August 15

Sowing of Kharif crops further picked up and touched almost 2020 levels during the week ended August 13. However, concerns remained over the final output because of delay in the planting of some crops, which have crossed their ideal sowing time.

According to latest data from the department of agriculture, till August 13, Kharif crops have been planted in around 99.7 million hectares, which is just 1.78 per cent less than the same period last year. It is 2.08 per cent more than the average area covered during the last five years.

The southwest monsoon, which has been vigorous over Central and Northern parts of the country since late July, went into a break from August 11 in several parts of the country.

India Meteorological Department (IMD) data showed that weekly cumulative rainfall departure for the country as a whole, for the week ending August 11, is 35 per cent below its Long Period Average (LPA).

The seasonal cumulative rainfall departure during June 1-August 13 is 7 per cent below the LPA.

Due to good rains in the latter half of July, water levels in the 130-odd reservoirs monitored by the government showed an improvement as compared to the previous week.

Data sourced from the Central Water Commission showed that as on August 12, live storage available in these reservoirs was 103.517 billion cubic metres (BCM). This is 59 per cent of the total live storage capacity of these reservoirs.

However, last year, live storage available in these reservoirs during the corresponding period was 92.179 BCM and the average of last 10 years live storage is 95.307 BCM.

“Thus, the live storage available in 130 reservoirs, as on August 12, is 112 per cent of the live storage of the corresponding period of last year and 109 per cent of the last 10 years,” the CWC bulletin said.

Healthy water levels in reservoirs augur well for the coming Rabi season as well.

Meanwhile, the IMD said monsoon will remain subdued over most parts of Northwest India and adjoining Central as well as adjoining Peninsular India till August 15.

Thereafter, in the following week (August 12-18), there is a likelihood of an increase in rainfall activity over most parts of the country as compared to the first week.

It further added that cumulatively rainfall during the second week of August is likely to be normal to above normal over most parts of the country, except parts of Western Himalayan Region, Gangetic West Bengal and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.