This monsoon may spell some good news for the economy as sowing of kharif crops have almost doubled this year. The total sown area as of July 5, 2013 stands at 401.69 lakh hectare
compared to 215.07 hectare at this time last year.
Rice, the main kharif creal crop has been sown in 69.17 lakh hectares, which is 13 lakh hectares more than what it was last year. Similarly, pulses have been sown in 18.37 lakh hectares, up 14 lakh hectares. Oilseed sowing which was 26.52 lakh hectares in 2012-13 has gone up by 84 lakh hectares.
Cotton production had taken a blow last year due to a drought in the main cotton producing states of Gujarat and Maharashtra. But good monsoon rain has increased the area under cotton cultivation from 46.61 lakh hectares in 2012-13 to 81.73 lakh hectares in 2013-14.
This rise in area of kharif crop cultivation is attributed to good and timely monsoon. Rainfall in the month of June was 32% above-average and is expected to get better from mid July. According to experts, good rain has lead to timely sowing of crops but the yield will depend heavily on the July rainfall as early sowing will lead to early harvesting and if the rain is weak in the second half of the season, it will affect production.
For the country as a whole, cumulative rainfall during this year's monsoon is 27 per cent above the long period average or LPA (as of July 3). This has helped enable timely sowing. Kharif sowing was delayed last year due to the late monsoon.
