During the 2024-25 kharif season, India's paddy cultivation area surged by 19.35%, reaching 59.99 lakh hectares. Concurrently, there was a notable increase in the cultivation of arhar and urad pulses. However, acreage dedicated to coarse cereals and millets declined during this period.
New Delhi, July 8 - The Ministry of Agriculture reported a significant 19.35% increase in the area sown with paddy, now totaling 59.99 lakh hectares during the ongoing 2024-25 kharif (summer) season, up from 50.26 lakh hectares last year. Paddy, the primary kharif crop, traditionally sees sowing commence with the onset of the southwest monsoon in June, followed by harvesting from September onwards.
Additionally, the Ministry noted a robust expansion in the area cultivated with pulses, which now stands at 36.81 lakh hectares as of July 8 in the current season, compared to 23.78 lakh hectares during the same period last year. Notably, 'arhar' cultivation has seen a significant increase, expanding to 20.82 lakh hectares from 4.09 lakh hectares previously. Similarly, the cultivation area for 'urad' has grown to 5.37 lakh hectares, up from 3.67 lakh hectares.
However, the area under coarse cereals and 'Shree Anna' (millets) has decreased to 58.48 lakh hectares from 82.08 lakh hectares in the corresponding period of the previous year.
Among coarse cereals, maize cultivation has expanded to 41.09 lakh hectares from 30.22 lakh hectares. Oilseeds have also experienced a substantial increase in sowing area, reaching 80.31 lakh hectares this kharif season compared to 51.97 lakh hectares last year.
Among cash crops, sugarcane cultivation has marginally risen to 56.88 lakh hectares from 55.45 lakh hectares, while cotton acreage has grown to 80.63 lakh hectares from 62.34 lakh hectares. However, the acreage for jute-mesta has decreased to 5.63 lakh hectares from 6.02 lakh hectares previously.
Overall, the total area under all kharif crops has expanded by 14% to 378.72 lakh hectares, up from 331.90 lakh hectares in the corresponding period last year.
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