Background
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, for the second successive year, the area under summer crops is showing an increasing trend in the country.
The summer sowing in the country, as on date (April 23), is 21.5 per cent higher than it was last year during the corresponding period.
Total summer crop area
The total summer crop area has increased to 73.76 lakh hectares from 60.67 lakh hectares a year ago in the corresponding period.
Area under pulses
As on April 23, the area under pulses increased to 12.75 lakh ha from 6.45 lakh ha, an increase of nearly 100 per cent.
Area under oil seeds
Area under oil seeds also increased to 10.45 lakh ha from 9.03 lakh ha, an increase of around 16 per cent over last year.
Area under rice
The rice coverage increased to 39.10 lakh ha from 33.82 lakh ha, an increase of around 16 per cent.
Summer/Zaid crops
Growing summer/Zaid crops based on the availability of soil moisture and other climatic conditions is an old practice in India, particularly for meeting the additional domestic requirement of food grains and feeding livestock.
A major gain by the cultivation of summer crops, is the improvement in soil health, particularly through the pulses crop.
Farmers also cultivate summer paddy crops in some states for their domestic use based on water availability.
Farmers generally start planting rice, corn, cotton, soybeans, sugarcane and peanuts, among other crops, from June 1, when monsoon rains typically arrive in India. Sowing usually lasts until July.
