Sowing Area Reaches 109.23 Million Hectares: Could This Lead to a Bumper Harvest?

Key Highlights

• The sowing area increased to 109.23 million hectares.
• Paddy planting is up by 4.06% from last year.
• Coarse cereals sowing rose to 18.87 million hectares.
• Pulses planting increased by 7.58%.
• Higher crop production may help reduce food inflation.

The total sowing area for crops in India has expanded to 109.23 million hectares as of September 6, showing a 2.16% increase from last year's 106.92 million hectares. This brings the current sowing area close to the average figure of 109.58 million hectares, suggesting a positive trend for the upcoming harvest.

Also Read: Cotton Prices Rise Across India: Rates Cross Minimum Support Price (MSP)

Growth in Key Crops

The area dedicated to paddy (rice) has reached 40.95 million hectares, surpassing the usual 40.15 million hectares by 2%. This is also a 4.06% increase from last year's 39.35 million hectares.

Coarse cereals (Shree Anna) have seen a rise as well, now covering 18.87 million hectares, up 3.85% compared to last year’s 18.08 million hectares. Pulses have experienced a significant jump, with 12.62 million hectares planted this year, a 7.58% increase from the 11.73 million hectares recorded in 2023.

Also Read: Basmati Rice Production to Increase by 20% in 2024 Due to Expanded Farmland and Good Rains

Potential Impact on Food Prices

The increase in crop sowing could bring down the high food prices India has been experiencing. More crops in the ground mean the potential for increased production, which may help curb food inflation. In July, inflation had dropped to 5.42%, down from over 7% in previous months.

However, it's not all good news. Oilseeds saw a modest increase in planting, while sugarcane acreage remained unchanged. Areas used for jute, mesta, and cotton have decreased.

Also Read: Registration for Selling Kharif Crops at MSP Starts September 19

Expert Views

Dr. Anand Vishwakarma, project coordinator for the All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Sesame and Niger, believes this trend is promising. He stated, “The increase in sowing suggests that kharif crop production, especially for oilseeds, will be strong. While heavy rainfall predicted in September could pose challenges, overall crop output should improve this year.”

Also Read: ICAR Launches 7 New High-Yielding Varieties of Soybean, Groundnut, Safflower, and Sesame

CMV360 Says

With more land under cultivation, India is hoping for a strong harvest season. While the final outcome will depend on weather conditions and other factors, this rise in sowing area offers optimism for both farmers and consumers. If the weather cooperates, bumper yields could help ease the food prices across the country.