India Region

Millets Fail to Attract Farmers; Acreage Down by 80 Percent

12 July 2024, New Delhi: Despite a significant increase in the MSP of millets / Shri Anna / coarse grains, the crops have failed to attract farmers as most of them are unable to find the right market or sell the crop at the support price. According to recent data released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, the area under millets till this week is about 80% less than last year, which is only 17 lakh hectares.

Farmers have preferred sowing of tur in pulses and soybean in oilseed crops. Pulses have been sown in 36.81 lakh hectares, while in the same period last year it was 23.78 lakh hectares. Sowing of tur was 4.09 lakh hectares till this week last year and it has increased almost 4 times to reach 20.82 lakh hectares. The MSP of tur has increased by 8% to Rs 7550 per quintal.

The same trend has been seen in soybean as well. Soybean sowing has more than doubled to 60.63 lakh hectares from 28.86 lakh hectares till this week last year. The MSP of soybean has been increased by 6% to Rs 4892.

With time there will be more clarity on the increase in acreage, as so far it can be attributed to the increase in MSP and the timely arrival of monsoon across India.

Area Coverage Under Kharif Crops (As of 8th July 2024)

S. No.CropArea Sown 2024Area Sown 2023Increase(+)/ Decrease(-) over 2023% Increase(+)/ Decrease(-) over 2023
1Paddy59.9950.269.7219%
2Pulses36.8123.7813.0355%
aArhar20.824.0916.74410%
bUrdbean5.373.671.6946%
cMoongbean8.4911.79-3.30-28%
dKulthi*0.080.070.019%
eOther pulses2.054.15-2.10-51%
3Millets & Coarse Cereals58.4882.08-23.60-29%
aJowar3.667.16-3.50-49%
bBajra11.4143.02-31.61-73%
cRagi1.020.940.099%
dSmall millets1.290.750.5472%
eMaize41.0930.2210.8836%
4Oilseeds80.3151.9728.348%
aGroundnut17.8521.24-3.39-16%
bSoybean60.6328.8631.77110%
cSunflower0.460.300.1652%
dSesamum**1.041.34-0.30-22%
eNiger0.190.000.199453%
fCastor0.100.20-0.10-50%
gOther Oilseeds0.040.040.008%
5Sugarcane56.8855.451.433%
6Jute & Mesta5.636.02-0.39-6%
7Cotton80.6362.3418.2929%
Total378.72331.9046.8114%
Source: Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare

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