India Region

Monsoon Spreads Across India; Soybean Sowing Close to Completion

21 July 2024, New Delhi: The latest data on the sowing of kharif crops released by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare shows a steady increase in sowing acreages over the last week for each of the major crops. With monsoon now spread across India, the sowing in central and northeast region areas was completed one week ahead of its normal schedule.

One of the standout findings is the notable increase in the area sown for paddy, up by 10.41 lakh hectares to reach 166.06 lakh hectares in 2024 compared to the 2023 corresponding week. This is a potential boost in rice production, a crucial staple food crop for India. However, there is a long way to go as the total expected acreage for paddy is about 401 lakh hectares.

Similarly, the area under pulses in the current week has seen a 22% rise reaching 85.79 lakh hectares, indicating efforts to enhance domestic pulse supply and reduce reliance on imports. More clarity will come once the sowing is complete as this increase in coverage can be attributed to the timely arrival of monsoon. The expected area of pulses in Kharif is 136 lakh hectares.

However, the data also reveals declines in certain crop areas. For instance, the area under coarse cereals has dropped by 11.10%, potentially reflecting shifting cultivation patterns or changes in consumer preferences. Bajra has been sown on 42.09 lakh hectares and is down by 27% when compared to the corresponding week of last year.

The groundnut and soybean crops have also seen a modest increase of 13% and 9% respectively when compared to the corresponding week of last year. Soybean is 3% short to reach its normal acreage of 122.95 lakh hectares. The current reported acreage is 108.97 lakh hectares.

A closer look at individual crops highlights some interesting trends. Oilseed crops, such as sunflower and sesamum, have seen mixed fortunes, with the sunflower area expanding by 35% while sesamum has contracted by 22%.

The data also sheds light on the evolving landscape of industrial crops. The area under sugarcane has seen a marginal increase of 1%, while cotton cultivation has declined by 6%, potentially reflecting market dynamics and policy interventions. The cotton crop in Sangrur and Malerkotla districts has decreased to 235 hectares, down from 1,100 hectares last year.

The table provides a detailed breakdown of the “Normal Area” (DES 2018-19 to 2022-23) and the “Area Sown” in 2024 and 2023 for various major crops grown across the country.

Kharif Sowing Acreages 2024 (in lakh hectares)

S.No.CropNormal Area (DES) (2018-19 – 2022-23)Area Sown 2024Area Sown 2023Increase(+) /  Decrease(-) over 2023% Increase(+) /  Decrease(-) over 2023
1Paddy401.55166.06155.6510.417%
2Pulses136.0285.7970.1415.6422%
aArhar45.5533.4819.3414.1473%
bUrdbean36.7619.6219.86-0.24-1%
cMoongbean36.9925.1122.762.3510%
dKulthi*1.900.130.18-0.05-27%
eMoth bean10.324.956.08-1.13-19%
eOther pulses4.492.501.920.5730%
3Millets & Coarse Cereals180.86123.72134.91-11.20-8%
aJowar16.019.8110.07-0.26-3%
bBajra72.6342.0957.99-15.90-27%
cRagi10.961.701.690.011%
dSmall millets4.472.342.170.188%
eMaize76.9667.7863.004.788%
4Oilseeds190.18163.11150.9112.208%
aGroundnut45.2837.3433.154.1913%
bSoybean122.95119.04108.9710.079%
cSunflower1.400.570.420.1535%
dSesamum**10.265.617.15-1.54-22%
eNiger1.220.220.030.18596%
fCastor9.070.291.14-0.85-75%
gOther Oilseeds0.000.050.050.00-1%
5Sugarcane51.1557.6857.050.631%
6Jute & Mesta6.745.646.03-0.39-6%
7Cotton129.34102.05105.66-3.61-3%
Total1095.84704.04680.3623.693%

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