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The area under wheat continues to trail despite sowing of rabi crop gathering momentum.
Coverage in pulses and coarse cereals was also lower, but the area under rice was up marginally, thanks to enthusiastic sowing of mustard/rapeseed, the area under oilseeds is up.
According to the Agriculture Ministry data, rabi crops have been planted on 280 lakh hectares (lh) so far, lower by 1.9 per cent compared with 285.9 lh during the same period a year ago.
Lower acreage
The area under wheat was 91.88 lh against 92.31 lh in the year-ago period.
The Centre’s decision to defer a decision on increasing the minimum support price from the current Rs 1,285 a quintal has resulted in farmers losing interest to raise the acreage under the crop. According to trade sources, the area under wheat could be lower this year in view of the delay in fixing the support price.
Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Gujarat have all reported lower acreage in wheat.
Rice scene
The area under rice is up marginally at 0.64 lh against 0.63 lh.
A higher minimum support price for rice, and export demand are encouraging better sowing.
Though edible oils prices are 30 per cent lower globally compared with last year, higher support price for oilseeds this year has led to improvement in sowing.
Besides, better soil moisture in the mustard/rapeseed growing areas, particularly in Rajasthan has also resulted in increased sowing.
Oilseeds
According to the Agriculture Ministry, the area under oilseeds is up at 61.28 lh against 58.58 lh during the same time last year.
Mustard/rapeseed is the major oilseeds crop in the rabi season.
Last year, the production was lower, leading to higher prices. So far, mustard/rapeseed has been covered on 52.2 lh (50.7 lh). Groundnut sowing has increased to 2.30 lh (1.59 lh) and sunflower to 3.21 lh (22.37 lh).
Rainfall
Coverage of pulses is down at 85.10 lh (92.49 lh).
The government has been banking on the rabi pulses crop to tide over the shortfall in kharif output due to erratic rainfall.
A cause for concern this rabi season is the deficient rainfall to the north of Vindhayas.
According to the India Meteorological Department, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat and other States up north have all received scanty rainfall since October 1.
On the other hand, Maharashtra and southern States have received excess rainfall.
> Gayathri.gururajan@thehindu.co.in
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