NBHC’s First Kharif Crop Estimates for 2020-21
India witnessed ‘Above Normal’ rainfall at 109 per cent
(95.4 cm) of the long period average (LPA) this year against long period
average of 87.7 cm based on data of 1961-2010. In three of four months, June
(118 per cent), August (127 per cent) and September (104 per cent) witnessing
above normal rainfall, while July recorded (90 per cent) deficient rainfall.
Division wise the east and northeast India, central India and south India have
received above normal rainfall and northwest India division has recorded
deficient rainfall. Good rains have boosted sowing of the kharif crops which
farmers have sown in record 1095.37 lakh hectares as on date as compared to
1085.65 lakh hectares a year ago. Nineteen states and union territories have
received normal rainfall this year, while nine states and union territories saw
excess rainfall. Bihar, Gujarat, Meghalaya, Goa, Andhra Pradesh Telangana,
Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Lakshadweep islands have recorded above normal
rainfall. Sikkim recorded large excess rainfall. However, Nagaland, Manipur,
Mizoram, Tripura, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir have
recorded deficiency. Ladakh has recorded large deficiency. Delhi has also
received deficient rainfall. The total live storage in 123 important
reservoirs in different parts of the country, monitored by CWC on week ending
16.10.2020 was 148.459 Billion Cubic Meter (BCM) (87 per cent of the storage
capacity at Full Reservoirs Level (FRL) against 152.024 (BCM) (89 percent of
the storage capacity at FRL) during corresponding date of pervious year and
128.887 (BCM) (75 per cent of the storage capacity at FRL) which is the average
storage of the last 10 years. In the last few days, in the post monsoon phase –
winter rains, most parts of Maharashtra have received moderate to heavy
rainfall due to cyclonic disturbance in a well-marked low-pressure area over South
Madhya Maharashtra and adjoining areas. Heavy to extremely heavy rain was
reported from most parts of the state with districts of Pune, Solapur,
Osmanabad, among others, reporting flash floods as well. Preliminary reports by
the commissioner of agriculture stated that crops over 4.5 lakh hectares were
damaged in the rains. Standing crops of soybean, maize, sugarcane and tur
reported damage. The latest IMD forecast indicates cooling of sea surface
temperatures will most likely continue and weak La Niña conditions will likely
turn into moderate La Niña conditions during the coming months and sustain till
early next year. No cyclone has developed this October yet. But the depression
over north interior Karnataka and adjoining areas of Maharashtra moved west-north
westwards and weakened into a well-marked low-pressure area over south Madhya
Maharashtra. The current low-pressure system had initially formed over the west
central Bay of Bengal on October 11. It had crossed the north Andhra Pradesh
coast and made landfall over north Andhra Pradesh, following which it moved
west north-westwards and weakened into a depression the same day. The system
has already caused extremely heavy rain (over 20 cm) over coastal Andhra
Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, etc. Keeping in mind the above
developments, we are come up with the NBHC’s First Kharif Crop
Estimates for 2020-21.
Total Rice is expected to show marginal
improvements in area by 6.74 per cent but production is expected to decline by
2.20 per cent than last year. A smaller crop last year forced India to import
maize after a gap of two years. The country imported about 500,000 tonnes maize
in 2019-20 (Apr-Mar) to meet the requirement of the poultry industry. This
kharif season, acreage is expected to increase by 2.31 per cent but still we
are expecting a 5.71 per cent lower crop size because of heavy rain is seen
affecting yield of the standing crop in Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka both key
growers of kharif maize. Area of Jowar is expected to decline by 1.17 per cent
despite increase in production by 1.22 per cent and Bajra acreage is expected
to increase marginally by 3.71 per cent but production is expected decline
significantly by 14.40 per cent.
In the pulses sector, acreage and production of Tur is
expected to increase by 9.78 per cent and 5.48 per cent respectively due to
crop condition is good so far in the major growing states of Maharashtra,
Gujarat, Telangana and Jharkhand. Urad area is expected to increase by 1.47 per
cent whereas production is expected to increase significantly by 45.38 per cent
because even if in some places the crops have been damaged, alternatively,
there has been an increase in the sowing area as well. We expect the area under
Moong is increase by 19.70 per cent whereas the production is expected lower by
3.91 per cent mainly due to crop damage in major producing states.
In oilseeds sector, excess rains in Central India are
expected to dampen the prospects of a record harvest for kharif oilseeds,
mainly soyabean and groundnut. Soybean acreage expected to improve by 8.17 per
cent but the production is expected significantly lowered by 15.29 per cent due
to heavy rains in September and October in major growing area which has
diminished hope of normal crop. Groundnut acreage expected to improve by 38.61
per cent but the production is expected significantly lowered by 14.69 per
cent. Castor area and production is expected to decline by 11.51 per cent and 23.74
per cent. The decline in production is expected to the tune of 8.00 per cent and
14.89 per cent for Sesamum and Sunflower respectively.