India’s summer crop coverage sees slight decline, rice cultivation surges

livemint.com:

NEW DELHI: Summer crop coverage in India experienced a slight decline, reaching 830.31 lakh hectares as of 28 July, based on the latest data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare. This represents a decrease from the corresponding period last year when the cultivated area stood at 831.65 million hectares. According to the data, rice cultivation, exhibited a notable increase, with an area of 237.58 lakh hectares sown this year compared to 233.25 lakh hectares during the same period in 2022.

In contrast, the pulse crops category witnessed a decrease in total cultivated area. This year, a total of 96.84 lakh hectares were sown with pulses, compared to 109.15 lakh hectares last year. The sub-categories under pulses, namely Arhar, Urad bean, Moong bean, Kulthi, and other pulses, all saw a reduction in the area sown when compared to the figures from last year.

Shri Anna-cum-coarse cereals recorded an overall increase in the cultivation area, reaching 145.76 lakh hectare this year, compared to 143.48 lakh hectare in the previous year. However, the trends within this category which includes jowar, bajra, ragi, small millets, and maize displayed a mixed trend, with some showing an increase and others a decrease in the area covered. Oilseed crops witnessed an upward trend, with a total of 171.02 lakh hectare under cultivation this year, up from 167.61 lakh hectare in the corresponding period in 2022.