Pulses sowing up by 80%; paddy sowing down

Sowing area of pulses has increased by 80% to 11.04 lakh hectares during this kharif season so far on better rains and higher support price announced by the government, but area under paddy lags behind.

"Hike in the minimum support price (MSP) of pulses coupled with rise in retail prices seems to have enthused farmers to put more area under lentils," Agriculture Secretary Siraj Hussain said.

Sowing of pulses to such an extent is of great significance. If domestic production rises then there will be no inflationary trends in prices, Hussain added.

India produces about 17-19 million tonnes of pulses annually, but still has to import about 4 million tonnes to meet domestic demand.

According to the official data, pulses acreage has increased to 11.04 lakh hectares so far in kharif 2015 (summer sown crops) from 6.14 lakh hectares in the year ago period.

The Centre recently announced a hike of up to Rs 275 per quintal in the MSP of the commodity.

Besides pulses, the area under coverage for oilseeds, coarse cereals and cotton has also increased.

Oilseeds acreage has jumped more than five-fold at 27.89 lakh hectares so far in kharif 2015 from 5.29 lakh hectares in the year ago period.

Higher acreage of oilseeds augurs well as the country imports more than 11 million tonnes of vegetable oil annually.

Coarse cereals sowing stands at 19.28 lakh hectares and cotton at 34.87 lakh hectare.

However, area under coverage of paddy, the major kharif crop, has declined to 23.28 lakh hectare from 25.04 lakh hectare in the year ago period.

The Secretary further said there is no need for concern in case of paddy as sowing is yet to start in some major producing states.

The total sown area as on June 26, as per reports received from states, stands at 165.62 lakh hectare as compared to 134.18 lakh hectare at this time last year.

Kharif sowing has picked up at all India level and about 16% of total kharif sowing has been completed, Hussain said, adding that despite a slow start, the progress of monsoon in the country is fairly good.

"The rainfall situation has improved and for the country as a whole the cumulative rainfall during June 1-24 has been 24% more than the normal for corresponding period," Hussain said.

He also informed that situation of water availability in major reservoirs has also improved. "As compared to 25% of full capacity at Full Reservoir Level (FRL) during the last week, water availability now is 27% of the FRL," the Secretary said.