Rabi Crop Cultivation Area Grows to 614.94 Lakh Hectares
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New Delhi, Dec 16 (NationPress) The total agricultural area utilized for various rabi crops in India this season has reached 614.94 lakh hectares, an increase from 611.8 lakh hectares recorded in the same period last year, as per official data released by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare on Monday.
The area dedicated to wheat has risen to 319.74 lakh hectares (ha), compared to 313.00 lakh ha during the corresponding timeframe last year, which is anticipated to lead to a higher yield of this cereal for the season. Additionally, winter rains are expected to further support crop growth, according to agricultural experts.
The total area planted with pulses stands at 136.13 lakh ha, while 48.55 lakh ha has been sown with shri anna and coarse cereals, and 96.15 lakh ha has been allocated for oilseeds.
This increase in the overall sowing area is likely to boost the production of vital food items and contribute to lowering inflation within the economy.
Looking forward, food inflation is projected to decline, while the economic growth outlook remains cautiously optimistic in the upcoming months, driven by favorable monsoon conditions, higher minimum support prices, and sufficient input supplies, as noted in the Finance Ministry’s monthly economic review last month.
India’s retail price inflation, based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), has decreased to 5.48 percent in November as the rise in food prices subsided, offering relief to household finances, according to data released by the Ministry of Statistics.
The decline in inflation marks a shift from the rising trend observed in the previous two months, when inflation reached 6.21 percent in October.
An RBI report earlier this month indicated that “India’s growth narrative remains robust, and inflation is on a downward trajectory.” The RBI Governor expressed optimism regarding the economic outlook, stating that “the equilibrium between inflation and growth is well positioned.”
The slowdown seen in the Indian economy during the second quarter of 2024-25 is now behind us, as private consumption has resumed its role as the main driver of domestic demand, with festival spending invigorating real activity in Q3, according to the RBI’s monthly bulletin for November.
The report highlights that rural India is becoming a significant market for e-commerce companies this festival season; this trend is expected to gain further traction with the substantial rise in kharif output and optimism surrounding rabi production, which is bolstering a record food grains target for 2024-25, the bulletin noted.
