Kharif crop output expected to rise

Mumbai, July 30 (UNI) The Kharif crop outlook is expected to rise, according to the Knowledge Management department of National Commodities and Derivatives Exchange (NCDEX).

The preliminary picture for kharif crops for seven-week period since June 1 when the monsoon ofically began, states that around 63 per cent of the normal area has been covered, an NCDEX release said here today.

As per July 20 figures from the Ministry of Agriculture, the overall area sown has increased by 1.7 per cent for all crops which includes cereals, oilseeds and cotton.

In case of sugarcane, the sown area is less than last year, though higher than normal. Among cereals, sown area has risen for rice and bajra, but fallen for jowar and maize.

The area sown is a quick indicator of the likely agricultural output. To get an accurate picture, one would need the actual area sown, the comparable figure for the previous year and the normal sown area.

However, production also depends on other factors like area sown, precipitation, inputs, seeds, adverse weather conditions, pest attacks among others, the release added.

UNI