Transforming Crop Cultivation: In the past year, India’s farming sector has experienced noteworthy changes in the types of crops being grown. According to a recent agricultural report, there have been significant shifts in the areas dedicated to different crops when compared to the previous year. This report sheds light on major crops like rice, pulses, coarse cereals, sugarcane, jute, and cotton. These insights provide us with valuable information about India’s farming practices and could impact the availability of essential foods.
Rice cultivation has shown a positive trend, expanding by about 16.23 lakh hectares, which is quite substantial. This means that now there’s more land, around 384.05 lakh hectares, where rice is being grown. The growth is mainly seen in states like Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Haryana. However, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra have reported a decrease in rice farming.
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On the other hand, the cultivation of pulses, which are important sources of protein, has decreased by 10.63 lakh hectares, reaching around 117.44 lakh hectares. Rajasthan and Jharkhand have shown more interest in pulse farming, while Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra have reduced their areas for pulse cultivation.
There’s a positive story in the growth of coarse cereals cultivation, which has expanded by about 2.02 lakh hectares to cover around 178.33 lakh hectares. This increase is largely because of Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, and Haryana. But in states like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Rajasthan, there’s been a decline in the cultivation of coarse cereals.
Sugarcane farming has seen a slight increase, with an area of about 56.06 lakh hectares, growing by 0.47 lakh hectares from the last year. This growth is seen in states like Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, while Maharashtra and Gujarat have slightly reduced their sugarcane cultivation.
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However, jute and mesta cultivation have declined, covering around 6.56 lakh hectares, a decrease of 0.39 lakh hectares compared to the previous year. Only Meghalaya has increased cultivation, while Bihar, West Bengal, and Assam have reduced it.
Lastly, the cultivation of cotton has decreased by 2.27 lakh hectares, covering about 122.56 lakh hectares in total. Gujarat and Rajasthan have expanded their cotton farming, but Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka have reported decreases.
These changes in crop cultivation across India give us a clear picture of farming trends. Climate and market demand are big factors influencing these shifts. As India aims for food security and sustainable farming, keeping an eye on these changes is vital for making informed decisions in the agricultural sector.