The Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare has released the latest data on the progress of area coverage under kharif crops as of September 15, 2023. This report showcases significant developments in India’s agricultural landscape, with rice, coarse cereals, sugarcane making notable strides in terms of area sown. However, there has been a minor decline in the cultivation of pulses, jute, and oilseeds.
Rice, a staple crop in India, has seen substantial growth in the area sown compared to the previous year. In 2023, rice cultivation covered a vast expanse of 409.41 lakh hectares, representing a 2.72% increase from 2022 when it stood at 398.58 lakh hectares. This expansion in rice cultivation is a positive sign for ensuring food security and meeting the growing demands of the population.
On the other hand, the total area sown under pulses, including arhar, urad, moong, kulthi, and other pulses, has seen a slight decrease of 5.15% in 2023 compared to the previous year. While the total area covered in 2022 was 127.57 lakh hectares, it has decreased to 121.00 lakh hectares in 2023. The decline could be attributed to an 11 percent monsoon rainfall deficit in the nation, as reported by data from the Ministry of Agriculture.
Coarse cereals, including jowar, bajra, ragi, maize, and small millets, have demonstrated steady growth in the area sown. In 2023, these crops were sown across 183.11 lakh hectares, marking a 0.90% increase from 2022 when the area covered was 181.48 lakh hectares. This growth signifies the importance of coarse cereals in India’s agricultural landscape, especially as they serve as essential food sources and fodder.
Oilseeds, including groundnut, soybean, sunflower, sesamum, niger, castor, and other oilseeds, have witnessed a marginal decrease of 1.09% in the area sown in 2023 compared to the previous year. In 2022, the area covered was 194.33 lakh hectares, which has decreased to 192.20 lakh hectares in 2023. Monitoring these trends is essential as oilseeds are crucial for oil production and the livestock feed industry.
| S.No. | Crops | Normal Area [DES] (Lakh Ha) | Area Sown (Lakh Ha) | Difference in Area Coverage Over | % of Increase (+)/ Decrease (-) Over | |
| 2023 | 2022 | 2022 | 2022 | |||
| 1 | Rice | 0.00 | 409.41 | 398.58 | 10.83 | 2.72 |
| 2 | Total Pulses | 0.00 | 121.00 | 127.57 | -6.57 | -5.15 |
| (i) | Arhar | 0.00 | 43.21 | 45.81 | -2.59 | -5.66 |
| (ii) | Kulthi | 0.00 | 0.36 | 0.35 | 0.01 | 1.79 |
| (iii) | Urad | 0.00 | 32.25 | 32.97 | -0.72 | -2.19 |
| (iv) | Moong | 0.00 | 31.34 | 33.81 | -2.47 | -7.31 |
| (v) | Other Pulses | 0.00 | 13.83 | 14.62 | -0.79 | -5.37 |
| 3 | Total Coarse Cereals | 0.00 | 183.11 | 181.48 | 1.64 | 0.90 |
| (i) | Jowar | 0.00 | 14.22 | 15.68 | -1.46 | -9.31 |
| (ii) | Bajra | 0.00 | 70.89 | 70.49 | 0.40 | 0.57 |
| (iii) | Ragi | 0.00 | 8.85 | 9.31 | -0.46 | -4.89 |
| (iv) | Maize | 0.00 | 83.67 | 81.13 | 2.54 | 3.13 |
| (v) | Small Millets | 0.00 | 5.48 | 4.87 | 0.61 | 12.58 |
| 4 | Total Oilseeds | 0.00 | 192.20 | 194.33 | -2.12 | -1.09 |
| (i) | Groundnut | 0.00 | 43.81 | 45.34 | -1.54 | -3.39 |
| (ii) | Sunflower | 0.00 | 0.70 | 2.00 | -1.30 | -64.95 |
| (iii) | Sesamum | 0.00 | 12.14 | 13.11 | -0.97 | -7.43 |
| (iv) | Niger | 0.00 | 0.69 | 0.93 | -0.25 | -26.39 |
| (v) | Castor | 0.00 | 9.20 | 8.48 | 0.72 | 8.47 |
| (vi) | Soyabean | 0.00 | 125.57 | 124.31 | 1.26 | 1.01 |
| (vii) | Other Oilseeds | 0.00 | 0.11 | 0.14 | -0.04 | -25.60 |
| 5 | Sugarcane | 0.00 | 59.91 | 55.65 | 4.26 | 7.66 |
| 6 | Total Jute and Mesta | 0.00 | 6.58 | 6.98 | -0.40 | -5.72 |
| 7 | Cotton | 0.00 | 123.22 | 127.29 | -4.06 | -3.19 |
| Grand Total | 0.00 | 1095.43 | 1091.86 | 3.57 | 0.33 | |
Sugarcane cultivation has seen significant expansion in 2023, with the area sown reaching 59.91 lakh hectares. This represents a remarkable 7.66% increase from the previous year when sugarcane was cultivated on 55.65 lakh hectares. This growth is a positive sign for the sugar industry and sugarcane farmers across the country.
The total area sown for jute and mesta has reached 6.58 lakh hectares in 2023, representing a decrease of 0.40 lakh hectares compared to the previous year’s figure of 6.98 lakh hectares. This translates to a 5.72% reduction in area coverage, indicating potential challenges or shifts in demand for these fibers.
In total, kharif crop sowing has crossed 1095.43 lakh hectares in 2023, indicating a 0.33% increase from 1091.87 lakh hectares in 2022. These figures highlight the resilience and adaptability of Indian farmers in meeting the challenges posed by changing agricultural dynamics.
