Indian Farmers Increase Kharif Crop Sowing by 3% in 2024
Farmers in India have sown Kharif crops across 904.60 lakh hectares so far this year, compared to 879.22 lakh hectares in the same period last year. This represents a 3% increase, according to the latest data from the Agriculture Ministry.
Commodity-wise Sowing
Sowing of paddy, pulses, oilseeds, millets, and sugarcane has increased year-on-year. However, sowing for cotton and jute/mesta has declined.
Government Commitment
Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan stated that the central government is committed to 100% procurement for Urad, Arhar, and Masur pulses in all states. He emphasized the need for awareness to encourage more farmers to cultivate pulses.
Pulse Imports
India, a large consumer and grower of pulses, still relies on imports to meet its domestic needs. Pulse imports have nearly doubled in 2023-24.
Monsoon’s Importance
India has three cropping seasons: Summer, Kharif, and Rabi. Kharif crops, sown during June-July and dependent on monsoon rains, are harvested in October-November. The monsoon is crucial for Kharif crops, and this year, it is expected to be above normal, according to forecasts from IMD and Skymet. Over 70% of India’s rainfall occurs during the southwest monsoon period, impacting the livelihood of nearly 45% of the population.
Doubts Revealed
Kharif crops -: Kharif crops are the crops that are sown at the beginning of the rainy season, usually in June, and harvested in the autumn. Examples include rice, maize, and pulses.
904.60 lakh hectares -: A hectare is a unit of area measurement. 1 lakh is equal to 100,000. So, 904.60 lakh hectares means 90,460,000 hectares, which is a very large area of land.
Agriculture Minister -: The Agriculture Minister is a government official responsible for policies related to farming and agriculture. In this case, it’s Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
procurement -: Procurement means buying or obtaining something. Here, it means the government is committed to buying 100% of certain pulses from farmers.
pulse imports -: Pulses are types of crops like beans and lentils. Importing means buying goods from other countries. So, pulse imports mean India is buying pulses from other countries.
monsoon -: The monsoon is a seasonal wind that brings heavy rains, especially important for farming in India. It usually occurs from June to September.
45% of India’s population -: This means that nearly half of the people in India depend on farming for their livelihood, which is how they earn money and support their families.
