85% of Kharif Sowing Completed: Decline in Oilseeds, Farmers Shift Towards Maize

Thanks to good monsoon rainfall this year, nearly 85% of Kharif crop sowing has been completed across India. According to the Union Ministry of Agriculture, as of August 1, Kharif crops had been sown on a total of 932.93 lakh hectares, compared to 887.97 lakh hectares during the same period last year—an increase of about 44.96 lakh hectares, or nearly 5%.

Increase in Paddy and Maize

Paddy, the primary Kharif crop, has been sown on 319.40 lakh hectares, which is 16.69% higher than last year’s 273.72 lakh hectares. However, there has been a marginal decline in the area under pulses. The total area under pulses stands at 101.22 lakh hectares, slightly down from 101.54 lakh hectares last year.

The most significant drop is seen in the sowing of tur (arhar/pigeon pea), which has declined by 6.68%, from 41.06 lakh hectares to 38.32 lakh hectares. Sowing of urad has also dropped by 2.43% compared to the same time last year.

Maize Sowing Rises 11.74%

The area under coarse cereals has increased by 4.74%, rising from 164.76 lakh hectares to 172.57 lakh hectares. While there has been a slight dip in jowar (sorghum) and bajra (pearl millet) sowing, maize has recorded a notable 11.74% increase. The area under maize has risen from 81.99 lakh hectares last year to 91.62 lakh hectares this year.

Farmers are increasingly shifting towards maize instead of pulses and oilseeds, primarily because maize has become a major feedstock for ethanol production, leading to higher demand and better price prospects.

Oilseed Acreage Drops Nearly 4%

Despite the government’s efforts to promote self-reliance in edible oil production, farmers have shown less interest in oilseed crops. The total area under oilseeds has declined from 178.14 lakh hectares last year to 171.03 lakh hectares this year—a fall of nearly 4%.

Groundnut sowing is down by 4.33%, sunflower by 11.97%, and soybean by 3.98%. The area under soybean has reduced from 123.45 lakh hectares to 118.54 lakh hectares. Last year, farmers suffered due to lower market prices, which has affected their inclination towards soybean cultivation this season.

Sugarcane Area Up, Cotton Down

There is good news for India’s sugar and ethanol sectors, as the area under sugarcane has increased by 2.94%, from 55.68 lakh hectares last year to 57.31 lakh hectares this year. On the other hand, the area under cotton has declined by 2.36%, now standing at 105.87 lakh hectares.

This article has been republished from The Rural Voice.