July 7, 2008

 

Good rains augur well for India's corn and oilseed crop

   
  

India's corn and oilseed crop planting has been progressing well so far due to good rains in the last month, according to latest data released by the farm ministry Friday (July 4, 2008).

 

India's monsoon rains were 20 percent above normal in the last month.

 

The rain comes as corn planting was accelerated. Corn planting in June was 2.65 million hectares, up 22 percent from 2.16 million hectares a year ago.

 

According to industry officials, the area of corn in the country is likely to rise by 7 percent to 10 percent this year due to the high prices received by farmers in the last few months because of surge in exports.

 

However, India declared a ban on corn exports last week to reduce inflation, which could tame local prices.

 

The area used for oilseed during June 1-July 3 was a tad higher at 5.00 million hectares up from 4.95 million hectares a year ago.

 

The sowing of soy was carried out in 2.48 million hectares, up from 2.21 million hectares a year ago, while groundnut was sown in 2.07 million hectares, up from 1.93 million tonnes.

 

India's summer crop plantings mostly take place between June and September. They are driven by the monsoon and pre-monsoon rains.

 

The weather department has predicted good rains in the next three to four days in north, west, and central India, auguring well for the country's summer crop planting.

 

India's monsoon rains are a critical source of water for summer-sown crops with around 60 percent of the country's farmlands being rain-fed.
   

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