The six per cent excess monsoon rainfall, which has boosted reservoir levels across the country, has raised the prospect for good rabi plantings, set to start in the next 10 days.
“The reservoir position is pretty good and we expect the rabi acreage to be between 62-65 million hectares” J.S. Sandhu, Agriculture Commissioner, told Business Line . Last year, rabi acreage stood at 62.9 million hectares (ha).
Sandhu said the water level in the 85 major reservoirs monitored by the Central Water Commission was at 84 per cent of the full storage capacity.
The live storage in these reservoirs is estimated at 130 billion cubic metres (BCM) against the full capacity of 155 BCM.
The recent rains have enhanced the soil moisture level, which is good for sowing of mustard and chickpea.
However, these rains have affected the harvest of kharif crops, such as soyabean and pulses, and the quality of the produce may be affected, he said.
Planting of mustard is expected to start in the next 10 days, mainly in the rain-fed areas, Sandhu said.
The Government is targeting rabi oilseeds output of 10.5 million tonnes, against last year’s 10.14 mt.
Wheat planting is expected to be carried out in about 29 million ha, same as last year.
The Government is targeting wheat output of 92.5 mt, almost same as last year. However, with the Government planning to step up the production of sorghum to offset the decline in kharif, the rabi area under the coarse cereals may increase. “Our strategy is to focus on increasing the rabi sorghum output to offset the kharif decline.
“The emphasis will be on the selection of suitable varieties and making available enough seeds.
“We will be focussing on southern States such as Andhra, Karnataka, Maharashtra and even Gujarat” Sandhu said.
Sorghum was planted in about 3.9 million ha last rabi.
But, with part of Bihar reeling under drought, the rabi maize acreage may see a decline.
The Government is targeting maize output of 5.5 mt against 6.19 mt achieved last rabi.
Similarly, the rice production target is set at 14 mt, marginally higher than 11.64 achieved last rabi.
The production of pulses is pegged at 12 mt, marginally lower than 12.54 achieved last year.