Rabi crop acreage witnesses a decline, pulses fare the worst

Sowing for the Rabi cropping season 2023-24 is nearly complete, but preliminary data indicate that crop production may be low for the season. The acreage under Rabi crops is approximately 1,651,000 hectares less than usual, with pulses experiencing the lowest acreage. A change in rainfall pattern is likely the reason for the reduction in acreage.

According to Agriculture Ministry data, Rabi crops were sown on a total of 62.96 million hectares until the last week of December 2023, whereas sowing was done on 64.61 million hectares until the last week of December 2022. 

Rabi crops are typically planted in the country until the last week of December, covering approximately 64.84 million hectares in total. In comparison to the previous season, the current season's sowing area has decreased by 1.65 million hectares. Crops have not been planted on 1.87 million hectares in the current season, compared to the average acreage for Rabi seasons.

The sowing of pulses has been significantly affected in the current season. Agriculture ministry data showed that till the end of December, pulses were planted on 14.24 million hectares in the country, whereas in the last season, they were planted on 15.32 million hectares. So there has been a reduction of 1.07 million hectares in the acreage for pulses.

Among pulses, gram cultivation has been affected the most. The crop is primarily sown during the Rabi season. 

Last year, gram crops were planted in 10.52 million hectares, but this year they have been planted on only 9.7 million hectares. Apart from this, the acreage for moong or green gram cultivation has also decreased. While last Rabi season green gram was sown on 293,000 hectares, this year the crop has been sown on only 181,000 hectares.

The main crop of Rabi season is wheat. In the current season, wheat has been planted on 32.05 million hectares, whereas in the last season, wheat was planted on 32.45 million hectares — a reduction of 400,000 hectares. 

The area of paddy grown in Rabi season has also reduced. Although paddy is planted in only a few areas in the Rabi season, its acreage is about 5.2 million hectares. However, this area is decreasing. Paddy was planted on 1.65 million hectares in December 2022, but until the last week of December 2023, it had been planted on only 1.43 million hectares.

Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Gujarat are among the states affected by Rabi sowing. In Karnataka, sowing is down by about 20 per cent during the current Rabi season. It is also noteworthy that the pre-monsoon rainfall in Karnataka has reduced significantly. 

India Meteorological Department data showed that except Mysore district in Karnataka, all other districts in the state received below normal (deficient rainfall) or large deficient rainfall. Crops have been sown on 2 million hectares in the current season in Karnataka, while till December 2022, Rabi crops were sown on 2.53 million hectares.

Similarly, crops were planted on 4.6 million hectares in Maharashtra this year, compared to 5.19 million hectares in 2022. 

During the Rabi season, a large number of crops are planted in Rajasthan, but the area planted has decreased this year. Sowing has been completed in 9.05 million hectares this season, compared to 9.5 million hectares last season.

The government is concerned about less sowing during the Rabi season. Because the area under pulses is so small, there is a risk that pulses will become extremely expensive. The government is becoming increasingly concerned about the decline in pulses production as general elections approach in mid-2024.

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