In just one week, the area under cultivation has gone up from 13.13 million hectares to 31.56 million hectares.New Delhi: Crop planting this season has more than doubled from last year with the early advance of the southwest monsoon and heavy showers speeding up agricultural activity in the country.
The biggest increase is in oilseeds, under which area has gone up by more than six times. The area under pulses has increased by up to three times. Central India, which has received the heaviest rainfall in the country this season, is a major area for these crops.
Area under rice, the main kharif crop, has increased by 34% while that under coarse cereals, including bajra and maize, has gone up by almost 100%.
In just one week, the area under cultivation has gone up from 13.13 million hectares to 31.56 million hectares.
“Monsoon is advancing well and reaching most of the states before schedule. We are well prepared with enough seeds and fertilisers to help farmers in planting well in time. We expect bumper crop this year,” said S K Malhotra, agriculture commissioner. “The effect of Covid-19 pandemic is not visible in agriculture sector.”
The government has set a target of 149.92 million tonnes of food grain production in the current kharif season and 148.4 million tonnes in the rabi (winter sown) season, taking total food grains target to a record 298.3 million tonnes in the 2020-21crop year.
Source: indiatimes.com
