Monsoon
Despite ongoing spell of wet weather, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has termed the 2021 Southwest monsoon season from June 1 to September 30 as normal rainfall. According to IMD the rainfall during this four-month period was 874.6mm which is little more than 99% of the Long Period Average (LPA) of 880.6mm of 1961-2010, anything between 96% and 106% of the LPA is considered normal. This makes it the third year in a row of normal or better rainfall for the country.
IMD anticipates that the beginning of withdrawal of the Southwest monsoon by October 6 in northwest of the country as against normal departure date of September 17 in the region.
Furthermore, IMD estimates that the Northeast monsoon which brings rainfall to southern states from October to December is likely to be normal too. The south Peninsular India consisting of five meteorological subdivisions (Tamil Nadu, Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Rayalaseema, Kerala and South Interior Karnataka) receives about 30% of its annual rainfall during the Northeast monsoon season (October to December). Tamil Nadu, in particular receives about 48% of its annual rainfall during this season.
According to IMD from a regional perspective in the period June to September, North East and North West regions of India were below their average rainfall by 11.64% and 3.94% respectively. Central India saw 3.68% higher rainfall and South Peninsula was 10.74% higher than their individual regional medians. The rainfall over country as a whole was 110%, 93%, 76% and 135% of LPA during June, July, August and September respectively.
Going granular, India is divided in to a total of 36 meteorological subdivisions encompassing 100% of the country’s area. IMD reports that of these 36 subdivisions, 20 encompassing 58% of the total area of the country received normal rainfall, 25% of the country’s area represented by 10 subdivisions received excess rainfall over the LPA. Of these two subdivisions of Marathwada and Telangana received well in excess of the LPA. However, six subdivisions received deficient rainfall as compared to LPA. These six subdivisions include the North Eastern states of Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Assam and Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh representing three subdivisions. The other three subdivisions are represented by Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, West Uttar Pradesh and Lakshadweep. These six divisions with deficient rainfall together account for 17% of India’s total area.
Reservoir storage levels
Data from the minutes of the meeting of the Crop Weather Watch Group (CWWG) held on September 24, 2021 reveals that the Central Water Commission (CWC) monitors 130 major reservoirs in the country with a total live storage capacity of 171.96 Billion Cubic Meters (BCM) at Full Reservoir Level (FRL) are 89% full with 133.18 BCM as compared to last year’s storage. This is however 101% of the last 10 year’s average storage (normal) of 131.36 BCM. CWC reports that 105 of the 130 reservoirs have irrigation potential with FRL capacity of 129.21 BCM.
The CWWG reports that there were 107 reservoirs with more than 80% of normal storage, 16 reservoirs with storage between 51% to 80%, four reservoirs with storage between 31% to 50% and three reservoirs with storage up to 30%.
Sown acreage for Kharif 2021-22
According to CWWG in terms of area sown under different crops this Kharif 2021-22, rice has been sown in 411.46 lakh hectares (LH) which is 4% higher than the normal area for the whole Kharif season of 395.66 LH. It is almost 3% higher and 11.40 LH more than last year’s area of 400.06 LH. Similarly, the total area sown for coarse cereals is 167.76 LH which is 8.6% lesser than 183.59 LH than the normal area for the whole Kharif season and 17% lower than last year’s area. This takes the total sown area for Cereals to 579.22 LH which is almost the same as the normal area for the whole Kharif season of 579.24 LH. It is 5.5% lower than the last year’s area of 584.79 LH.
For pulses the sown acreage for 2021 Kharif season is 135.19 LH which is almost the same as the normal area for the whole Kharif season of 135.95 LH and 0.5 LH lower than last year’s area. The total food grains i.e., sum of pulses and cereals acreage this Kharif stands at 714.41 LH lower by 0.79 LH of the normal area for the whole Kharif season and 6.14 LH lesser than last year.
The area sown for oilseeds has gone up this Kharif 2021 to 194.19 LH which is 5.8% and 10.69 LH more than normal area for the whole Kharif season of 183.5 LH. This is however lower by 7% and 10.69 LH than last year’s area of 208.77 LH.
Summing up the total area for all crops this Kharif 2021 is 1086.32 LH little higher than 1077.15 LH of normal area for the whole Kharif season. This is however 2.5% or 27,89 LH lower than last year’s area pf 1114.21 LH.
Procurement
Current Marketing Season RMS 2021-22 has concluded in wheat procuring states and till date (As on 18.08.2021) 433.44 LMT procurement has been done for central pool, (which is all time high), whereas corresponding Wheat procurement during RMS 2020-21 was 389.93 LMT. About 49.20 Lakh farmers have already been benefitted from ongoing RMS procurement.
As on 24 September 2021, during KMS 2020-21, Progressive Procurement of Rice was 598.36 lakh MT as compared to 513.47 lakh MT procured during corresponding period of KMS 2019-20. About 130.51 Lakh farmers have been benefitted from ongoing KMS procurement.
MSP
Agri produce sold below MSP: Wheat, Paddy, Bajra, Maize, Jowar, Ragi, Gram, Urad, Moong, Safflower, Sunflower and Cotton.
Agri produce sold above MSP: Barley, Arhar, Masur, Copra, Groundnut, Mustard, Sesamum, Soyabean and Jute.