Increase in Crop Acreage:
- Paddy Sowing: Increased by 3.44 lakh hectares compared to last year, reaching 32.02 lakh hectares in 2024-25 from 28.57 lakh hectares in 2023-24.
- Pulses Sowing: Expanded by 2.20 lakh hectares, from 18.47 lakh hectares in 2023-24 to 20.67 lakh hectares in 2024-25.
- Specific pulses, such as moong and urad, saw significant increases, with moong rising by 1.70 lakh hectares and urad by 0.50 lakh hectares.
Relevance : GS 2(Governance) ,GS 3(Agriculture)
Increase in Other Crops:
- Onion and Potato: Sowing of onion increased by 2.82 lakh hectares, reaching 12.58 lakh hectares in 2024-25 from 9.76 lakh hectares in 2023-24.
- Potato: Sowing area increased by 0.47 lakh hectares.
Water Availability and Reservoir Storage:
- Water Storage: Improved water storage conditions compared to last year, with 161 reservoirs having 117% of last year’s storage and 114% of the 10-year average.
- This indicates better preparedness for the current sowing season due to favorable water availability.
Foodgrain Stocks:
- Rice and Wheat Stocks: Stocks of rice (389.05 lakh tonnes) and wheat (177.08 lakh tonnes) are well above the buffer stock norms, ensuring food security.
- The actual rice stock exceeds the buffer standard of 135.8 lakh tonnes, and wheat stock surpasses the standard of 74.6 lakh tonnes.
Impact of Weather Conditions:
- The meeting confirmed there was no significant impact of the heatwave or high temperatures on the wheat harvest, ensuring stable foodgrain availability.
Promotion of Scientific Agriculture:
- A campaign to promote scientific agriculture was planned, focusing on improving farming practices and efficiency.
Conclusion:
- Kharif season sowing has been positive, with increased acreage for key crops, bolstered by favorable water storage conditions and adequate foodgrain stocks, enhancing India’s agricultural resilience.
