The sowing of summer or zaid crops was nearly 7 per cent higher than last year as of May 9, with the area under almost all crops rising. The acreage increased due to conducive weather and the availability of water for irrigation in key States such as Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.

The higher coverage of zaid crops will likely result in record production of rice and maize.

Higher than normal

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, 78.82 lakh hectares (lh) have been covered under zaid crops — cultivated between rabi harvest and kharif sowing — compared with 71.94 lh a year ago. The coverage of most crops is higher than normal, too.

The acreage under paddy was up over three per cent at 32.02 lh (28.57 lh) and the normal 30.80 lh. The area under pulses increased 1.5 per cent to 22.70 lh and the normal 21.65 lh. 

Among pulses, the area under green gram (moong) was up at 19.45 lh (18.44 lh), while black matpe (urad) coverage rose by 0.5 per cent to 19.45 lh (18.44 lh). The coverage of other pulses remained unchanged at 0.18 lh.

Oilseeds up a tad

The acreage under Shri Anna and coarse cereals was up 1.6 per cent at 14.59 lh (12.95 lh). Among them, maize witnessed a significant 1.5 per cent rise at 8.89 lh (7.37 lh), while bajra coverage was up nearly 1 per cent at 5.05 lh (4.96 lh).

Oilseeds coverage increased marginally by 0.28 per cent to 9.51 lh (9.23 lh). The area under groundnut was up at 2.31 lh (4.11 lh), while that of sunflower at 0.36 lh (0.31 lh), and sesamum (cumin) at 4.77 lh (4.73 lh). The acreage of other oilseeds, however, dropped to 0.07 lh from 0.08 lh.

Published on May 14, 2025