Sown area under kharif crops up 8.54% from last year
17 Aug 2020
A significant 14 per cent increase in planting of oilseeds and rice, the total area under kharif crops in the country so far, has crossed 1,000 lakh hectares and is set to hit a new record, data released by the ministry of agriculture and farmers welfare showed.
As of 14 August 2020, the total kharif crops have been sown on 1,015.58 lakh ha against 935.70 lakh ha during the corresponding period last year, an increase of 8.54 per cent in crop area coverage compared to last year.
As per crop wise data the under rice has gone up to about 351.86 lakh ha compared to 308.51 lakh ha during the corresponding period last year – an increase of 43.35 lakh ha compared to last year.
The area under pulses has gone up to about 124.01 lakh ha compared to 121.50 lakh ha during the corresponding period last year – an increase of 2.51 lakh ha compared to last year.
Area under coarse cereals stands at about 168.12 lakh ha compared to 162.28 lakh ha during the corresponding period last year – an increase of 5.84 lakh ha compared to last year.
Area under oilseeds has gone up to about 187.14 lakh ha compared to 163.57 lakh ha.during the corresponding period of last year – an increase of 23.56 lakh ha compared to last year.
Area under sugarcane has gone up to about 52.02 lakh ha compared to 51.40 lakh ha during the corresponding period last year – an increase of 0.62 lakh ha compared to last year.
Area under jute and mesta has gone up to about 6.96 lakh ha compared to 6.85 lakh ha during the corresponding period last year – an increase of 0.11 lakh ha compared to last year.
Area under cotton has increased to about 125.48 lakh ha compared to 121.58 lakh ha during the corresponding period last year – an increase of 3.90 lakh ha compared to last year.
And, with water storage in 123 reservoirs in different parts of the country at 88 per cent of the corresponding period of the last year, the agriculture ministry hopes for a bumper crop this season.