Kharif sowing in the country as on July 9 is pegged at 49.99 mln hectares, down 10% on year. Sowing has been down due to erratic monsoon during June 1-July 9 period in the key growing regions. According to the broad classification, sharp fall is being observed in the sowing pattern in soft commodity specifically cotton followed by coarse cereals and then oilseeds.

Particulars   (In Mln Ha)	As on 09.07.2021	As on 09.07.2020	% Change
Grains	11.48	12.61	-8.9%
Pulses	5.25	5.34	-1.6%
Coarse Cereals	7.31	8.82	-17.2%
Oilseeds	11.26	12.61	-10.8%
Softs (Cotton)	8.65	10.48	-17.5%
Total Kharif Crop	49.99	55.81	-10.4%

 

Particulars  (figures in Mln hectares)	As on 09.07.2021	As on 09.07.2020	Change(+/-)	Full Year 2020	Percent completed of Last year  (D Of G)	Normal Area	Percent completed of Normal  (D Of I)
Grains
Rice	11.48	12.61	(1.13)	40.11	28.63%	39.57	29.02%
Pulses
Tur	2.49	2.48	0.00	4.62	53.8%	4.56	54.45%
Urad	1.28	1.25	0.02	3.75	34.0%	3.73	34.20%
Moong	1.19	1.35	(0.16)	3.50	34.0%	3.35	35.60%
Coarse cereals
Jowar	0.53	0.66	(0.13)	1.66	31.8%	1.95	27.05%
Bajra	1.57	2.53	(0.96)	6.71	23.5%	7.34	21.44%
Maize	4.92	5.29	(0.38)	7.77	63.3%	7.47	65.83%
Oilseeds
Soybean	8.21	9.24	(1.02)	12.06	68.11%	11.29	72.77%
Groundnut	2.67	3.01	(0.34)	4.93	54.17%	4.17	64.00%
Sunflower	0.08	0.06	0.02	0.13	63.49%	0.14	56.34%
Softs
Cotton	8.65	10.48	(1.84)	12.96	66.72%	12.36	69.95%

Sowing of soybean so far has been lower because of reduced availability of seeds and higher cost. Besides, the above factors, miniscule rise in the MSP of soybean has also likely resulted into lower sowing in 2021-22 crop year.

However, still some days are left for the Kharif sowing period to end. Already, 80-85% of the sowing of the oilseed is complete. Will soybean sowing jump or stagnate ??? Will Tur grab some area of soybean in Maharashtra ???  Let’s keep our fingers crossed and watch out for the final numbers as monsoon is set to revive.