Kharif acreage drags as monsoon starts slow; may pick up in the weeks ahead

Shortfall in rains, which was over 40% till June 10, narrowed to 4% by June 24 largely due to a massive downpour in the East and North-East

Total acreage under kharif crops on June 24 was about 24 per cent lower than the same period last year, as farmers waited for the monsoon rains to pick up before undertaking planting in a big way.

According to the latest data, area under most kharif crops, such as rice (-46 per cent), pulses (-36 per cent) and oilseeds (-48 per cent) was lower than the same period last year. But it is expected to improve significantly in the weeks ahead as monsoon becomes vigorous over most of Central and North India. 

Cotton acreage till June 24 was pegged at 3.18 million hectares, almost 15 per cent lower year on year.

The shortfall in monsoon rains, which was more than 40 per cent during the first 10 days of the 2022 season that started on June 1, narrowed to 4 per cent by June 24 largely due to a massive downpour in the East and North-East.

However, data showed that in the agriculturally critical parts of Central, South and North-West India, the monsoon so far has been 31 per cent below normal, 15 per cent below normal and one per cent above normal respectively.

Monsoon rains play a crucial role in agriculture, which employs nearly 50 per cent of India's workforce, as nearly half the country's farmland lacks irrigation.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) in its latest weather update said that an intense spell of rainfall is likely to continue along west coast during over the next four days while subdued rainfall activity is expected over Northwest and adjoining Central India till June 26.

Central and North-West India are major oilseed, pulse and cotton growing belts of the country.

Meanwhile, private weather forecasting agency Skymet said in its latest weather report that the Southwest monsoon has taken three big pauses in the last three weeks.

It added that the monsoon took a big leap over Northeast India covering the entire region in one stretch.

Other than this jump, it has literally limped to cover 50 per cent area of the country and more so, the Bay of Bengal arm protracting over Northwest Bay.

However, in the past few days, Skymet said that progress over the eastern side is expected to be quicker than the western one.

Southwest monsoon is likely to advance over more parts of Uttar Pradesh between June 28-29.

Further, between June 30 and July 02nd, the rains are likely to reach Delhi, Uttarakhand, East Rajasthan and more parts of Gujarat.