Shock to Kharif Crops: cultivated areas decreased, paddy and pulse crops may be affected

New Delhi: Agricultural production in India was at a record level for 6 consecutive years. But this year, Kharif farming is facing a setback. This is because the monsoon is weak in the major producing states of the country. There is no mention of the amount of rain in the said places. As a result, the share of cultivated areas in major states has declined. It is feared that the national crop production of rice and pulses will decrease due to this

So far the area under Kharif cultivation has decreased by 1.5%. In the case of paddy, it is 6%. In West Bengal, the country’s largest paddy-growing state, the area under paddy cultivation has decreased by 12.5%. According to the report, the amount of rainfall in the major states has not been as expected, which has a direct impact on agriculture.

In states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, agricultural work has been hampered due to such scanty rains. Due to the reduction of paddy cultivated area, the production of paddy may decrease by 6 to 10 million tons in 2022-23 grain year. Last year, production was at a record level of 129 million tons, according to commercial figures.

In the same way, due to the decrease in Kharif production, there is also a fear that the prices will increase. 80% of production is usually done during this season. According to the Ministry of Agriculture data, Kharif crops such as rice, pulses, oilseeds, cotton, and other crops are cultivated on 104.5 million hectares of land. By this time last year, it stood at 106.1 million hectares. An official of the ministry said that the Kharif farming work is almost over.

A total of 36.7 million hectares of land has been cultivated. This is 6% lower than last year. From 2016-27 to 2021-22, the annual average area under Kharif paddy cultivation is 39.7 million hectares. However, 3.6 million hectares of land have been cultivated in West Bengal. It is 12.5% ​​lower than last year. While West Bengal produces 16.6 million tons of rice, it will be extracted from about 13% of the total production of 122.2 million tons in the whole country.

In Jharkhand, another state that is major in paddy production, paddy is cultivated on less than 1 million hectares. Similarly, in Chhattisgarh, it is 0.3 million hectares, in Bihar 0.2 million hectares, in Uttar Pradesh 0.2 million hectares and in Odisha 0.2 million hectares less land is cultivated.

Similarly, considering the previous year, states like Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have relatively higher paddy cultivated areas. Oilseeds such as soybean and groundnut are cultivated on 18.6 million hectares of land. This is relatively less than the same period last year. Compared to last year, 5% fewer pulse crops have been grown.

India meets 56% of its edible oil through imports. Similarly, 15% of pulses demand is met by imports. While cotton cultivation has increased by 6%, sugarcane cultivation is relatively higher than last year. According to the data of the Meteorological Department, between June 1 and August 26, 717 mm of rain has fallen, which is suitable for agricultural work. This is 8% higher than the normal level. Its long-term average level is 664 mm.

Heavy rains caused water logging and flooding in South, Central, and North West India. But in states like Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, and Jharkhand, paddy cultivation has been affected due to a lack of rain, an official said.

According to the official, the extent to which the production will decrease due to low rainfall can be estimated by the middle of September. It is said that the Kharif grain production figures for the 2022-23 agricultural year will be published by the Ministry of Agriculture next month.