Kharif crops sowed on 1,065 lakh hectares; rain imbalance a big worry

Tribune News Service

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Chandigarh, August 28

Backed by bountiful rains this monsoon season, the kharif sowing in 2024-25 increased to 1,065 lakh hectares from 1,044 lakh hectares in the corresponding period last year, with several crops — including pulses and oilseeds — showing a healthy upward trend.

According to the data released by the Ministry of Agriculture on Tuesday, key kharif crop paddy reported coverage on 394.28 lakh ha, compared to 378.04 lakh ha during the corresponding period last year. Likewise, an increase in the coverage was reported in pulses, up to 122.16 lakh ha compared to 115.55 lakh ha in the corresponding period last year.

The area under coarse cereals also increased, to 185.51 lakh ha area compared to 177.50 lakh ha last year; as did area under oilseeds, with a coverage of 188.37 lakh ha compared to 187.36 lakh ha in the corresponding period last year.

Besides boosting the country’s food security, a healthy growth in acreage has alleviated concerns about the surge in food inflation that has been bothering the Narendra Modi government in recent months. The growth in pulses and oilseeds also reflects the country’s efforts to boost production and reduce dependence on imports, and to support the domestic industry, say experts.

Over the past few years, concentrated efforts have been made to bring oilseeds, pulses and coarse cereals under an MSP regime, encourage farmers and reduce the demand-supply imbalance in these commodities.

However, changing monsoon patterns have the potential to disrupt traditional cropping cycles, decrease yields and increase crop failures — factors that are increasingly becoming cause of concern, experts war.

Live example: Gujarat, Rajasthan

A live example is Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, which are currently grappling with a land-based deep depression.

The desert areas of Kutch and parts of Rajasthan are battling severe flooding as ‘exceptionally’ heavy rainfall continues to pound these regions.

While flooding in Gujarat has claimed lives and caused widespread destruction, western Madhya Pradesh is also experiencing a vigorous monsoon due to the presence of a deep depression over the region.

The IMD has predicted more rainfall over the next few days and the region remains on a red alert until tomorrow.

In contrast, key agricultural areas in the northwest and north — Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Chhattisgarh — witnessed below-normal monsoon rainfall in the sowing season.

Monitoring changing patterns

It is crucial to monitor changing trends in order to address new challenges faced by farmers.

Just like the adverse effects of droughts, heavy rains have the potential to damage planted crops. Crops like paddy, vegetables and pulses are significantly affected by uneven rainfall distribution.

India has so far received 7 per cent excess rains this monsoon season. However, many parts — close to 15 per cent of its landmass — continue to face a huge deficit even as the third phase of the four-month season comes to an end this month.

Parts of India that used to see limited rains are getting flooded. While the normally arid parts of Rajasthan, Gujarat and southwest Madhya Pradesh are seeing more than expected rains, parts of the northwest, Bihar and Jharkhand are witnessing rain deficit.

Though a lack of balance or a shift in rain distribution seems to have been accepted as the norm — due to climate change and global warming — this June-September season saw the activation of new climate hotspots, with Tripura and Gujarat, Rajasthan and Kerala witnessing unprecedented concentrated rains, with disastrous repercussions.