Study OAS ·
Kharif Sowing in India: Progress and Trends
What’s the News?
- The total area under Kharif sowing in India has surpassed 1,110 lakh hectares, increasing by about 15 lakh hectares compared to the same period last year.
- Growth is seen in paddy, pulses, and coarse cereals sowing. Oilseeds show a lag relative to last year.
Key Crop-wise Trends
- Paddy: ~438.5 lakh hectares sown (↑ ~2% over last year).
- Pulses: Slight increase to ~118 lakh hectares.
- Coarse cereals: ~192-193 lakh hectares. Moderate growth.
- Oilseeds: Decline to ~188-189 lakh hectares from ~194 lakh last year.
- Cash crops (e.g. cotton): Lower sowing area compared to previous year.
Additional Info
- Kharif Crops:
- Sowing Season: Grown with the onset of the south-west monsoon, typically from June to July.
- Harvesting Season: Harvested in September-October.
- Climatic Requirements: Require warm and humid conditions and a substantial amount of rainfall.
- Examples: Major Kharif crops include rice, maize, jowar, bajra, tur (arhar), moong, urad, cotton, jute, and groundnut.
- Rabi Crops:
- Sowing Season: Sown after the monsoon, from October to December.
- Harvesting Season: Harvested from April to June.
- Climatic Requirements: Require a cool and dry climate for growth and are often dependent on irrigation.
- Examples: Wheat, barley, gram, mustard, and peas.
- Government Initiatives to Support Agriculture:
- Minimum Support Price (MSP): The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by the Prime Minister, has approved a hike in MSP for 14 Kharif crops for the marketing season to ensure remunerative prices for farmers.
- Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY): A crop insurance scheme that provides financial support to farmers suffering crop loss or damage due to natural calamities.
- Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN): A central sector scheme providing a financial benefit of ₹6,000 per year in three equal installments to eligible farmer families.
- National Food Security Mission (NFSM): Launched to increase the production of rice, wheat, pulses, coarse cereals, and commercial crops through area expansion and productivity enhancement.