Pulses Sowing

The Centre has clamped export curbs on several paddy varieties as it feels that total production might drop by 10-12 million tonnes due to delayed sowing.

However, if monsoon progress in August and is geographically more even, Nomura believes Kharif sowing could still pick up going ahead, which in turn could keep food prices and inflation under check.

Farmers typically start planting summer-sown crops on June 1, when monsoon rains usually reach India. Planting then continues until early August.

"About 6.42 million hectares area coverage under pulses as compared to 2.44 million hectares during the corresponding period of last year," the statement said

Rainfall between Jul 25-31, 42% above normal; Skymet questions IMD second half forecast

Reacting to relatively better price realisation as compared to other varieties of pulses, farmers had till last week planted gram (chana) on around 1.3 million hectares, around 14 per cent more than in the same period last year.Trade sources said some shift in acreage towards gram might also happen from mustard, as oilseed rates had plummeted in the kharif harvest season due to stock overhang and less demand. How much area finally gets shifted will depend on how prices move after the recent decision to double the import duties on crude edible oils and how fast winter sets in over northern India. Favourable weather might cap a big shift.According to government data, till Friday, mustard was sown on 5.13 million hectares, about 11.2 per cent less than in the same period last year. Overall, till last week, sowing of rabi crops was complete in about half the normal area, at 31.58 mn ha, marginally less than in the same period last year. "Gram prices haven't dropped as sharply as other ...

Sowing of pulses, which showed a declining trend initially, rose 23 per cent in terms of acreage as on Friday year-on-year as spread of monsoon brought more and more areas under kharif cultivation.As much as 4.41 million hectares of land was brought under cultivation against 3.59 million tonnes in the corresponding period of the previous year. There were apprehensions that sowing of pulses would fall this year due to protests of farmers, particularly in Madhya Pradesh over subdued prices. Overall, sowing of kharif crops was up almost nine per cent at 40.4 million tonnes as on July seven against 37.12 million tonnes a year ago. Sowing area under paddy went up by 6 per cent to nearly eight million hectares.Sowing in the kharif season normally begins with the onset of southwest monsoon and picks up pace from July. Paddy, tur, moong, urad, soyabean, sunflower seed and cotton are the main crops grown in this season.Area under coverage for coarse cereals stood at 8.08 million hectares as ...

Pulses acreage this year is highest in last 5 years