India’s kharif crop sowing season is off to a strong start, with acreage under cultivation reaching 110.46 million hectares as of September 20th. This represents a 1.50% increase compared to the previous year and surpasses the four-year average of 109.6 million hectares. The positive news comes from the Ministry of Agriculture, who attribute the growth to the beneficial monsoon rains.
Paddy, a staple crop in India, saw a significant rise in sowing area, reaching 41.35 million hectares. This marks a 3% increase over the average area of 40.15 million hectares and a 2.22% jump compared to the same period last year.
Another key kharif crop, pulses, recorded a substantial 7.79% increase in sowing area, expanding to 12.85 million hectares from 11.92 million hectares last year. This is a positive indicator for the agriculture sector, as pulses are a crucial source of protein. Tur (arhar) dal, a type of lentil, alone accounted for a significant portion of this increase, with 4.65 million hectares sown.
Coarse cereals, also known as ‘shree anna,’ saw a 6.35% increase in sowing area, reaching 19.25 million hectares compared to the normal area of 18.10 million hectares. This is 3.49% higher than the 18.60 million hectares sown during the same period last year.
Oilseeds also saw a slight increase in sowing area, reaching 19.38 million hectares from 19.09 million hectares in 2023, while sugarcane remained stable at 5.76 million hectares.
However, not all crops saw growth. Jute and mesta saw a decline, falling to 574,000 hectares from 667,000 hectares last year. Similarly, cotton acreage dropped to 11.27 million hectares from 12.37 million hectares last year.
This bumper sowing season has instilled confidence among policymakers, as kharif production contributes around 60% of India’s total foodgrains output. Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare expressed optimism about a bumper pulse harvest this year, noting that the increase in sowing areas is a positive signal for the agriculture sector and reflects the government’s commitment to improving farm productivity. The potential for a good harvest could lead to a reduction in prices for pulses, a crucial protein source for the country.
The broad increases across various crops provide some relief from the concerns about a surge in food inflation, which has been a persistent challenge in recent months. While food inflation has slowed to 5.66% in August, it remains higher than headline inflation. The favorable sowing conditions and the potential for a bumper harvest could help mitigate the impact of food inflation and contribute to greater food security in India.
