Kharif acreage lags as monsoon starts slow

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.

- SANJEEB MUKHERJEE

According to the latest data, the 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 the 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.