India’s Record Kharif Crop Production for 2024-25
India is set to achieve a record in Kharif crop production for the year 2024-25, according to the first advance estimates released by the agriculture ministry. The total Kharif foodgrain production is projected at 1,647.05 lakh metric tonnes (LMT), marking an increase of 89.37 LMT from the previous year and 124.59 LMT above the average production.
Key Crop Estimates
The increase is attributed to higher production of rice, jowar, and maize. Kharif rice production is estimated at 1,199.34 LMT, which is 66.75 LMT more than last year. Maize production is projected at 245.41 LMT, while coarse cereals are estimated at 378.18 LMT. Pulses production is expected to reach 69.54 LMT, and oilseeds at 257.45 LMT, with groundnut and soybean contributing 103.60 LMT and 133.60 LMT, respectively.
Factors Contributing to the Increase
The estimates are based on trends and ground-level inputs, with revisions expected after Crop Cutting Experiments. Above-normal monsoon rains, which reached a four-year high, have significantly aided crop sowing. The monsoon, crucial for Kharif crops, recorded 108% of the long period average rainfall, facilitating robust sowing over 1,110 lakh hectares.
India’s Cropping Seasons
India has three cropping seasons: Kharif, Rabi, and Summer. Kharif crops are sown in June-July and harvested in October-November, relying heavily on monsoon rains. Rabi crops are sown in October-November and harvested from January, while Summer crops are grown between the Rabi and Kharif seasons.
Doubts Revealed
Kharif Crop -: Kharif crops are the crops that are sown with the beginning of the monsoon season in India, usually around June, and harvested in the autumn. Common Kharif crops include rice, maize, and jowar.
Lakh Metric Tonnes -: A lakh is a unit in the Indian numbering system equal to 100,000. A metric tonne is a unit of weight equal to 1,000 kilograms. So, 1,647.05 lakh metric tonnes means 164,705,000 metric tonnes.
Monsoon Rains -: Monsoon rains refer to the seasonal heavy rains that occur in India from June to September. These rains are very important for farming, especially for Kharif crops, as they provide the necessary water for the crops to grow.
Long Period Average Rainfall -: Long period average rainfall is the average amount of rainfall recorded over a long period, usually 30 years, in a particular region. It helps in understanding if the current rainfall is more or less than usual.
Crop Cutting Experiments -: Crop Cutting Experiments are scientific methods used to estimate the yield of crops. They involve selecting random plots in fields and measuring the actual crop production to get accurate data.
