Despite Assembly polls, three States—West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Assam has managed record sowing of summer kharif crops — rice and pulses—so far. Of the total 38.80 lakh hectare area sown under rice acorss the country, West Bengal contributed 10.42 lakh hectare under rice plantation; Assam 2.61 lakh hectare and Tamil Nadu 1.76 lakh hectare.
Similarly, in oilseed cultivation, West Bengal reported 2.61 lakh hectare while Tamil Nadu 0.61 lakh hectare. Sowing of summer crops is in full swing despite an increase in the number of Covid-19 cases, with the area expanding by 16.4% from last year to 6.78 million hectares.
As per data released by the Ministry of Agriculture on Friday, total summer crops has been sown on 67.87 lakh hectare area against 58.26 lakh hectare during the corresponding period of last year, thus increase in total summer area coverage by 9.61 lakh hectare compared to corresponding period of last year in the country.
Sowing reported under Pulses 8.68 lakh hectare against 5.72 lakh hectare area of last year i.e. increase in area coverage by 2.96 lakh hectare. Area coverage under Coarse Cereals reported on 10.86 lakh hectare area against 8.54 lakh hectare area of last year i.e. increase in area coverage by 2.33 lakh hectare in the country. Area coverage reported under Oilseeds 9.53 lakh hectare area against 7.96 lakh hectare area of last year, thus increase in area coverage by 1.57 lakh hectare. Area coverage reported under Rice on 38.80 lakh hectare area against 36.05 lakh hectare area of last year i.e. increase in area coverage by 2.75 lakh hectare.
Summer crops are planted during March-May, the intervening period between rabi and kharif season which starts with monsoon in June. “The trend of summer sowing progress is very good as on date. Besides, the prospect of rabi crops is also very good in the country. There is no impact of COVID-19 pandemic situation on progress of area coverage under summer crops in the country,” officials said.
Harvesting of wheat and other rabi crops have been completed in 65.05 per cent of the total 697 lakh hectares sown area during 2020-21 rabi season, according to data released by the agriculture ministry on Friday. Harvesting of rabi (winter) crops begins from March. The main rabi crop is wheat.
Wheat crop has been harvested in 135.85 lakh hectares,43.02 per cent of the estimated total cultivated area of 315.77 lakh hectares during the rabi season of the 2020-21 crop year (July-June).