Rabi sowing off to a slow start as wheat coverage trails

If one were to go by early rabi sowing trends, then oilseeds coverage may be higher this year.

But sowing in wheat and pulses are on at a slower pace. According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture, the area under oilseeds is higher at 31.36 lakh hectares (lh) against 28.41 lh during the corresponding period a year ago.

Rapeseed-mustard is the main oilseed during the Rabi season.

Coverage of wheat, the main cereal crop in the rabi season, is lagging behind. So far, 4.47 lh have been covered compared against 9.39 lh in the year-ago period.

The lower acreage can be attributed to problems sugarcane farmers are facing in Uttar Pradesh. With sugarcane crushing being delayed in the northern State, farmers have no option but to delay its harvest and in turn, postpone wheat sowing.

Pulses sowing is also slack with 23.98 lh being covered till now against 30.86 lh year ago. Coverage of gram or chana, the main rabi pulses crop, is down at 16.15 lh against 23.78 lh.

Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh held a review meeting in Mumbai on Friday with officials of State Agriculture and Animal Husbandry departments.

Officials were asked to provide soil health cards to all farmers over the next three years and also called upon scientists to adopt villages to effectively monitor extension activities. The Minister also suggested the establishment of a cow sanctuary project in Maharashtra along the lines of the one in Madhya Pradesh.