Has the Total Area Sown Under Kharif Crops Exceeded 89 Lakh Hectares?

New Delhi, June 17 (NationPress) The area designated for kharif crop sowing has reached 89.29 lakh hectares this year, showing an increase from 87.81 lakh hectares during the same time last year, based on data released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare on Tuesday.

This increase of 1.48 lakh hectares in sown area early in the season is promising for enhancing production, which will subsequently boost farmers' incomes and aid in controlling food inflation.

Official statistics indicate that the area sown for rice, which has just commenced, stands at 4.53 lakh hectares as of June 13 this year, compared to 4 lakh hectares for the same period last year.

The land allocated for pulses, including urad and moong, has been recorded at 3.07 lakh hectares, up from 2.6 lakh hectares last year, marking a significant increase of 0.49 lakh hectares early in the season—an encouraging sign as rising pulses production is crucial for managing inflation.

The area cultivated for oilseeds as of June 13 has also risen to 2.05 lakh hectares, from 1.5 lakh hectares during the same timeframe last year.

Land dedicated to coarse cereals or millets, including jowar, bajra, and ragi, has reached 5.89 lakh hectares so far this season.

The increase in sown area this season is attributed to favorable monsoon rains, facilitating sowing in the nation's unirrigated lands, which constitute nearly 50 percent of the country’s agricultural area.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved an increase in the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for 14 kharif crops for the marketing season 2025-26 on May 28 to ensure farmers receive fair prices for their produce and to encourage production.

The most significant increase in MSP over the previous year has been proposed for nigerseed (Rs 820 per quintal), followed by ragi (Rs 596 per quintal), cotton (Rs 589 per quintal), and sesame (Rs 579 per quintal).

This rise in MSP for the kharif crops for the 2025-26 marketing season aligns with the policy of setting MSP at a minimum of 1.5 times the all-India weighted average cost of production. The anticipated profit margin for farmers above their production costs is expected to be highest for bajra (63 percent), followed by maize (59 percent), tur (59 percent), and urad (53 percent). For other crops, the margin is projected at 50 percent.

The total expenses encompass all paid costs including those incurred for hired labor, bullock/machine labor, land rent, material inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, irrigation, depreciation on equipment, working capital interest, and other miscellaneous expenses, alongside the imputed value of family labor.