Paddy sowing area falls by 10 pc, Arhar by 42 pc

The area under paddy has improved with the onset of monsoon, while the sowing of pigeon pea is still in a state of concern. As per the Union Ministry of Agriculture data, till July 14, paddy, the main crop of the Kharif season, has been sown in 10.3 million hectares, which is 9.79 per cent less than the same period last year. During this period in 2022, paddy was sown in 1.14 crore hectares.

The area under Arhar has been less by 42.45 per cent during this period. The total sowing of Kharif crops is 4.29 per cent less than last year. As per the data, till July 14, pulses crops have been sown in 56.6 lakh hectare, which is 16.15 per cent lower than last year's 67.5 lakh hectare.

During this period, the sowing area of Arhar has been 14.1 lakh hectare, which was 24.5 lakh hectare in the same period last year.

The area under sowing of urad has come down by 15.19 per cent to 13.4 lakh hectare.

Last year, till this date, urad was sown in 15.8 lakh hectares. However, the area under moong has increased by 6 per cent. Likewise, Moong has been sown in 21.2 lakh hectare this year as against last year's 20 lakh hectare.

 Talking about oilseed crops, the total sowing has decreased by 10.40 per cent to 11.3 million hectares. In the same period last year, kharif oilseeds were sown in 1.26 crore hectare. The maximum decrease of 14.85 per cent has come in soyabean. However, the area under groundnut has increased by 1.41 per cent to 28.7 lakh hectares. In 2022, groundnut was sown in 28.3 lakh hectares. 

During this period, the area under jute has decreased by 7.35 per cent to 6.3 lakh hectare. On the other hand, there has been a decline of 4.99 per cent in area under cotton. It has been 95.3 lakh hectare as against 1 crore hectare last year.

However, there has been an increase of 4.69 per cent in the area under sugarcane and 15.91 per cent under coarse cereals. Among coarse cereals, the maximum increase of 44.51 per cent has been observed in bajra and 26.47 per cent in jowar. So far this year, millets have been sown in 50 lakh hectares as against 34.6 lakh hectares last year.

On the other hand, sowing of jowar has been done in 8.6 lakh hectare, which was 6.8 lakh hectare last year.

The total sowing of Kharif crops till the period under review has been done in 5.36 crore hectare as against 5.6 crore hectare last year. There has been a decrease of 4.29 per cent in the total area sown this year as compared to last year.