Close to normal winter crop plantation despite cash crunch fears, shows govt data

New Delhi: Despite concerns that a cash crunch in rural areas may affect planting of winter crops, the latest data from the agriculture ministry shows that sowing has picked up pace over the past week.

Till Friday, overall planting area under winter crops was just 0.27% lower than normal, or the five-year average, but 8.5% more than last year, the data shows. While planting of the main winter crop of wheat is 8% less than normal, area under pulses is 8.6% more than the normal area sown by this time of the year.

Wheat has so far been planted in 17.4 million hectares, 8% lower than the normal area of 18.9 million hectares. A week before, the gap was 14.7%. Seasonal area planted under wheat is 30 million hectares. However, progress in planting of wheat this year is nearly 14% more compared to the year before, when a crippling drought led to delayed and lower planting.

Data released on Friday shows that pulses like gram and lentils have been planted in 11.3 million hectares, 8.6% more than normal area and 13% higher than the area planted by this time last year. Seasonal area under winter pulses is 14 million hectares.

Overall, winter crops have been planted in 41.5 million hectares, marginally lower than the five-year average area of 41.6 million hectares by this time of the year. Normally Rabi or winter crops are planted in about 63.8 million hectares, sowing for which begins in October and the harvest from March onwards.

The government withdrew banknotes of Rs500 and Rs1,000 on 8 November, leading to a cash crunch areas that affected planting in the days following the sudden move as farmers use cash to pay for seeds, fertilisers and labour.

However, last week, the centre allowed farmers to use old Rs500 notes to buy seeds from government outlets and withdraw Rs25,000 per week from their bank accounts. It also provided cooperative banks in rural areas with Rs21,000 crore to advance as loans to farmers.