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