Paddy procurement up 18%; 10% increase in rabi sowing

Almost two months after the kharif harvest procurement started, the extent of paddy procurement is eighteen% increased than final 12 months, in keeping with Agriculture Ministry information. About 70% of rice procured to date is from Punjab, which is greater than the whole procurement from the State final 12 months.

At the identical time, greater than 40% of rabi or winter season sowing is full, with a ten% increase in acreage largely coming from elevated sowing of pulses this 12 months.

Paddy procurement started sooner than traditional this 12 months, beginning on September 26 in Punjab and Haryana as a result of early arrival of crops. So far, 295 lakh tonnes of paddy have been procured, in comparability to 250 lakh tonnes final 12 months, recording an increase of 17.8%. Punjab alone has contributed 201 lakh tonnes, or 68.2% of the whole.

According to Food Corporation of India information, 133 lakh tonnes of rice have already been procured from Punjab to date this 12 months, a 23% increase from the complete quantity of rice procured over the last kharif advertising and marketing season. (About two-thirds of the amount of paddy is transformed into rice.)

25.8 lakh benefited

In whole, 25.8 lakh farmers have benefited from the continued paddy procurement, in keeping with a Ministry assertion.

There has additionally been a 17% increase in procurement of pulses and oilseeds in comparability to final 12 months, with about 67,000 tonnes of moong, urad, groundnut and soybean having been procured to date, benefiting nearly 40,000 farmers in Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Haryana and Rajasthan. Approval was given for 45 lakh tonnes of pulses and oilseeds to be procured this 12 months beneath the worth assist scheme.

Rabi sowing can be exhibiting a choice for pulses, particularly these which noticed an increase in minimal assist costs this 12 months. Good monsoons and full reservoirs have additionally inspired early sowing in some States. There has been a 30% increase in the acreage of gram and lentils to date, in comparability to the identical time final 12 months. Lathyrus or kesari dal has additionally seen a whopping 86% increase in sowing acreage to date. Higher sowing space of pulses has particularly been reported from Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.

Increased sowing

Coarse cereals have additionally seen a 7% increase in sowing acreage to date, pushed by elevated sowing of jowar, bajra and ragi. An increase in mustard and safflower sowing has additionally pushed a 6.6% hike in oilseeds acreage, regardless of a drop in groundnut and sunflower.

On the opposite hand, wheat, the main rabi season crop, has solely seen a marginal half a per cent increase to date. About a 3rd of the same old acreage coated by wheat has been sown to date.