Pune: The ongoing heavy rains across Maharashtra have led to a substantial increase in Kharif crop sowing. So far, 68 per cent of the state's Kharif cropping area, which amounts to 96 lakh hectares, has been sown.
Major Kharif crops such as soybeans and cotton have also seen extensive sowing, with soybeans covering 91 per cent and cotton 76 per cent of their respective target areas, according to State Agriculture Director Vinay Awate.
Highest Sowing in Sambhajinagar Division
The total Kharif crop area in the state is 1.41 crore hectares. Currently, 96.4 lakh hectares have been sown, a significant increase compared to the 20.5 lakh hectares sown at this time last year. The average area for soybean cultivation is 41.5 lakh hectares, with 37.6 lakh hectares (91 per cent) already sown.
Last year, only 473,232 hectares were sown by July 3. The primary cotton-growing regions of Marathwada and Vidarbha have also seen increased sowing due to good rainfall. So far, 31.9 lakh hectares (76 per cent) of the average 42 lakh hectares for cotton cultivation have been sown.
Paddy Planting on 150,000 Hectares
Last year, only 12.4 lakh hectares were planted with cotton by this date. With the onset of rain in Konkan, Pune, Satara, Kolhapur districts, and parts of East Vidarbha, paddy planting has also begun. So far, 154,158 hectares (10 per cent) of the targeted paddy area have been planted.
Crop-wise Sowing Details
| Crop | Area Sown (Hectares) | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Pigeon Pea (Tur) | 8,33,376 | 64% |
| Mung Bean | 1,74,223 | 44% |
| Black Gram (Urad) | 2,58,348 | 70% |
| Sorghum (Jowar) | 56,729 | 20% |
| Pearl Millet (Bajra) | 3,08,278 | 46% |
| Groundnut | 98,803 | 52% |
"The state has received good rainfall. Fertilizers should be applied to the sown crops, and intercultural operations should be performed," advised Vinay Awate, Agriculture Director.