Rainfall deficient by 44 per cent in March-April: Agriculture Ministry

Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, April 9

As of April 9, summer crops has been sown on 67.87 lakh hectare area against 58.26 lakh hectare during the corresponding period of last year, an increase by 9.61 lakh hectare, the Agriculture Ministry said on Friday.

This despite the country registering a rainfall deficiency of 44 per cent. The actual rainfall received is 22.1 mm against the normal of 39.5 mm, a departure of (-)44 per cent from March 1 and April 8, according to the government data.

There is no impact of COVID-19 on the progress of area coverage under summer crops in the country, the government said.

Meanwhile, the live water storage in 130 reservoirs in the country is 83% of live storage of corresponding period of last year and 121% of storage of average of last 10 years as per the updated report of the Central Water Commission as of April 8.

Pulses sowing was reported in 8.68 lakh hectare against 5.72 lakh hectare last year, an increase of 2.96 lakh hectare.

Area coverage under coarse cereals is 10.86 lakh hectare area against 8.54 lakh hectare last year, an increase of 2.33 lakh hectare.

Area coverage under oilseeds is 9.53 lakh hectare against 7.96 lakh hectare area of last year, an increase of 1.57 lakh hectare.

The area under rice is 38.80 lakh hectare against 36.05 lakh hectare last year, an increase of 2.75 lakh hectare.

The trend of summer sowing progress is very good as on date, said the ministry. The prospect of rabi crops is also very good in the country, it added, stating that there is no impact of the COVID-19 on the progress of area coverage under summer crops in the country.