Rabi acreage falls nearly 5% to 591.64 lakh hectares

• 26 Jan, 2019
• India

New Delhi: Sowing of rabi crops is progressing on a slow pace, with latest data from the agriculture ministry showing a near-5% drop in area under cultivation so far this season.

Total area under rabi crops has dropped to 591.64 lakh hectares from 622.12 lakh hectares a year earlier, according to a ministry report. The deficit is mainly because of a 21% fall in rice acreage.

“Area under rice cultivation this year is 18.06 lakh hectares as against last year’s area of 22.95 lakh hectares. Major rice-growing states West Bengal, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh are lagging in sowing,” an agriculture department official said.

There is a deficit in wheat cultivation area as well. As against last year’s 304.08 lakh hectares, the area under the crop is 296.37 lakh hectares. Even then, wheat production is likely to touch an all-time high this season.

“Due to favourable weather conditions, this time wheat production may cross the 100-million-tonnes mark. The yield will be better this time,” agriculture commissioner SK Malhotra said.

However, Malhotra showed concern over the production of pulses, as area under the crop has dropped this year.

“Due to drought-like conditions in Maharashtra and Gujarat, there will be an overall less production of pulses this time. But we have enough stock to bank on,” he said.

Oilseeds production is likely to be good as cold weather and drizzle are supporting the standing crops, especially mustard which thrives under such weather conditions.

“We are expecting good crop size of mustard. Ground reports suggest good flowering of mustard in Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan, which are major growers of the oil seed,” Malhotra said.

Source: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/markets/commodities/news/rabi-acreage-falls-nearly-5-to-591-64-lakh-hectares/articleshow/67688618.cms