Wheat sowing in the current rabi season has gained momentum and the acreage as on December 16 was higher by about 4 lakh hectares compared with the corresponding period last year. However, the sowing of oilseeds, pulses and coarse cereals has slowed down due to dry conditions.
Latest data from the Agriculture Ministry reveals that wheat sowing has been higher in States such as Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. However, the area coverage has been lower in States such as Maharashtra, Gujarat, Punjab and Karnataka.
Sowing of oilseeds has been rather sluggish in recent weeks, compared with early days this rabi. The Government has targeted an area of 104.4 lakh ha under rabi oilseeds for 2011-1, against a normal area of 94.52 lakh ha. This includes a target area of 75.5 lakh ha under rapeseed and mustard, the main rabi oilseed crop. So far, sowing of mustard has been complete in 62.65 lakh ha, lower than last year's 66.63 lakh ha for the period.
The dip in oilseeds area so far could be attributed to lower coverage in Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra, while States such as Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu have reported higher sowing. As against the targeted area of 9.54 lakh ha for groundnut, sowing has taken place in about 3.27 lakh ha. Similarly, the area under sunflower has been lower as sowing is complete in only 3.2 lakh ha against the targeted 8.84 lakh ha.
So far, the area under pulses has been marginally lower on account of lack of rains. Area under gram, a dominant pulse crop has been lower at 83.55 lakh ha against 86.36 lakh ha in corresponding last year. States such as Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan have reported a higher area under pulses, while Maharashtra and Karnataka have reported lower areas due to dry conditions. The sowing of coarse cereals such as bajra and ragi has been lower this year and so also the transplanting of rice.