Kharif sowing target this year has increased by over 5 lakh hectares. This year, target has been set to sown Kharif crops in 131 lakh 20 thousand hectares. This was 126 lakh 27 thousand hectares last year. Tuar pulse will be sown in 2 lakh hectares. Against the target sowing operations have been undertaken in 32 lakh hectares so far.
The target of paddy sowing during Kharif 2016 is 21 lakh 24 thousand hectares, which is over one lakh hectares more than last year. Jowar will be sown in 2 lakh 73 thousand hectares. Its area has increased by 69 thousand hectares. Maize will be sown in 11 lakh hectares, millet in 2 lakh 32 thousand hectares and kodo and other crops will be sown in 2 lakh 8 thousand hectares.
This year, pulse crops will be sown in 21 lakh 51 thousand hectares. It is 4 lakh hectares more than last year's target. This year, Tuar pulse will be sown in additional 2 lakh hectares. last year, it was sown in 5 lakh 79 thousand hectares. This year's target of Tuar sowing operations is 7 lakh 79 thousand hectares. Similarly, urad will be sown in 11 lakh hectares, moong 2 lakh 50 thousand hectares and Niger and other crops will be sown in 22 thousand hectares.
Their sowing areas have increased by 68 thousand, 57 thousand and 7 thousand hectares, respectively.
Target of oilseeds sowing operations has been fixed in 64 lakh 60 thousand hectares this year. Soybean will be sown in 56 lakh 50 thousand hectares. Groundnut will be sown in 2 lakh 40 thousand, sesame in 4 lakh 90 thousand hectares and Niger and other crops will be sown in 80 thousand hectares. Cotton sowing target has been fixed at 5 lakh 72 thousand hectares.
Adequate arrangements have been made to make available fertilizer and seeds to farmers for Kharif crops. In all, 16 lakh 84 thousand MT fertilizers have been stored. Of this, over 5 lakh MT fertilizers have been sold. Similarly, of the 16 lakh 58 thousand quintal seeds, 12 lakh quintal seeds have been distributed.