Paddy sowing down 22% on delayed rains

Paddy sowing down 22% on delayed rains
The Financial Express, July 18, 2009, Page 17

Even though monsoon has shown signs of revival in most parts of the country this month, but its delayed arrival across the country has impacted sowing of some key kharif crops including paddy- the largest foodgrain grown during the season.

As per the latest government data, paddy (de-husked rice) has been sown in around 114.63 lakh hectare till July 17, almost 31 lakh hectare less compared to the same period last year.

The worst affected has been states like Jharkhand where paddy sowing is around 43% less till July 17 this year as compared to the same period last year. In Uttar Pradesh sowing is down by 33.14%, while in West Bengal, the country's largest paddy producing state, sowing has fallen by 35%.

Among others paddy growing states, sowing is almost 36% less in Maharashtra, 30% down in Bihar, 27% less in Andhra Pradesh and almost 35% down in Rajasthan.

However, sowing of paddy in Punjab and Haryana, is just around 8% and 5% less respectively till July 16 as compared to last year.

There is substantial improvement over last week when acreage stood at 74.28 lakh hectare.

"Past experience shows that rainfall deficiency in crop like paddy cause more severe impact on productivity than area. The cumulative effect of decline in area and productivity could result in more than 5% decline in rice output this year," said Ramesh Chand, National Professor, National Centre for Agricultural Economics and Policy Research.

Overall coarse cereals sowing, comprising of jowar, bajra and maize apart from paddy is almost 14.15 lakh hectares less as on July 17, 2009 compared to the same period last year.

Among other crops, oilseeds, the mainstay of millions of farmers' in central and western India has been sown in around 107.10 lakh hectare till July 16. Groundnut has been sown in around 25.69 lakh hectare till July 16, down from 27.63 lakh hectare last year. Soybean has been planted in around 71.36 lakh hectare till July 16.

Pulses have been sown in around 38.38 lakh hectares till July 15 down from around 41 lakh hectare sown during the same period last year.

Among cash crops, sugarcane has been sown in around 42.50 lakh hectare till July 17, down from 43.79 lakh hectare sown during the same period last year. Cotton has been sown in around 68.92 lakh hectare, down from 61.68 lakh hectare sown during the same period corresponding year. Jute has been planted in around 6.89 lakh hectare, down from 7.06 lakh hectare sown last.