Sowing of Kharif Summer Crops Touches New Record at 1,095.38 Lakh Hectare: Govt

Good rains and the timely prepositioning of inputs like seeds, pesticides, fertilisers, machinery and credit has made it possible for large coverage even during pandemic lockdown conditions, it said. “There is no impact of COVID-19 on progress of area coverage under kharif crops as on date,” the ministry added. As per the data, total area sown to rice has increased by 8.27 per cent to 396.18 lakh hectare so far in the current kharif season from 365.92 lakh hectare in the year-ago.

Area under pulses has increased by 4.67 per cent to 136.79 lakh hectare as against 130.68 lakh hectare, while that of area sown to coarse cereals increased by 1.77 per cent to 179.36 lakh hectare area as against 176.25 lakh hectare in the year-ago. Similarly, area under oilseeds increased sharply by 12 per cent to 194.75 lakh hectare so far in the current kharif season as against 174.00 lakh hectare in the year-ago.

Among cash crops, sugarcane area rose 1.30 per cent to 52.38 lakh hectare from 51.71 lakh hectare, while that of cotton acreage rose 3.24 per cent to 128.95 lakh hectare from 124.90 lakh hectare in the said period. There has been a 9 per cent increase in the overall rainfall in the country so far.