Kharif sowing area sees 10.3% increase in 2024

Despite rainfall being 2 percent below the Long Period Average (LPA) as of July 15, the sown area for Kharif crops has shown a 10.3 percent improvement compared to last year, according to a report by Bank of Baroda.

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The report highlights that overall cumulative rainfall this year stands at 287.7 mm, slightly lower than last year’s 293.5 mm.

The monsoon season has seen significant increases in the sown areas of key crops. Rice cultivation has surged by 20.7 percent, pulses by 26 percent, and oilseeds by 22 percent. Specifically, the acreage of Arhar (Toor Dal) within the pulses category has seen a steep rise, contributing notably to the overall increase. Urdbean cultivation has grown by 9 percent, while other pulses like moong bean have recorded declines. Among oilseeds, soybean has experienced a substantial 31 percent increase, whereas groundnut acreage has slightly decreased by 0.2 percent.