Farmers rush to plant summer crops as monsoon revives
New Delhi: Farmers have accelerated planting of summer-sown crops, such as paddy, soybean, cotton, and corn, following above-average monsoon rainfall in July that came after a deficit in June, government data shows. The southwest monsoon typically begins in Kerala around June 1, spreading nationwide by July 8, enabling farmers to plant summer crops. However, in June, India experienced 11% less rainfall than average, as the monsoon lost momentum in mid-June, delaying sowing. The first half of July saw 9% more rainfall than normal, aiding farmers in planting summer crops on 57.5 million hectares (142 million acres) by July 12— a 10% increase compared to last year, according to the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare. The monsoon, critical to India’s nearly $3.5 trillion economy, provides nearly 70% of the rain required to water farms and refill reservoirs and aquifers. Without irrigation, almost half of the country’s farmland relies on these annual rains.
The monsoon’s revival bodes well for yields
“Monsoon’s revival will benefit summer crop planting and early-sown crops from June. Overall, the monsoon’s revival in early July bodes well for crops and yields,” said Ashwini Bansod, Vice President of Commodities Research at Phillip Capital India Pvt. Ltd. Farmers have planted 11.6 million hectares with paddy, an increase of 20.7% compared to the same period last year. This surge is driven by record high prices, prompting farmers to expand their paddy fields. Higher rice planting could alleviate supply concerns in the world’s second-largest producer and consumer of the grain. India, the world’s largest exporter of rice, imposed a ban on the export of non-basmati white rice last year, following a prior ban on broken rice. With increased rice procurement by government agencies from last season’s crop and the expansion of paddy areas, there is potential for the government to ease restrictions on rice exports in October. This was suggested by a New Delhi-based dealer with a global trade house.
Oilseeds, corn plantation up:
Farmers have significantly increased their planting of key summer crops, driven by favorable monsoon conditions in July. According to the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, the area planted with oilseeds, including soybeans, has expanded to 14 million hectares, up from 11.5 million hectares the previous year. Corn planting has also seen a notable increase, with 5.88 million hectares planted compared to 4.38 million hectares last year. The cotton area has slightly risen to 9.6 million hectares, while pulses have experienced a remarkable 26% increase in planting, reaching 6.23 million hectares. These figures are provisional and will be updated as the Ministry gathers more information from state governments. The timely revival of the monsoon in early July has been a crucial factor, providing the necessary rainfall to support the increased planting activities and potentially leading to higher yields.
