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The total area cultivated under Kharif crops has escalated by 2.93% from 1084.62 lakh hectares in 2022-23 to 1116.42 lakh hectares in 2023-24. This indicates an increase of 31.80 lakh hectares from the previous year's equivalent period. When compared with the standard area cultivated (average from the preceding five years), there is an upsurge of 11.27% from 1003.56 to 1116.42 lakh hectares. This expansion is reflected across all crops, with maize seeing the most significant surge. Out of the full 31.80 lakh hectares increase in all Kharif crops, the maize area witnessed an increase of 14.50 lakh hectares from 84.28 lakh hectares in 2022-23 to 98.78 lakh hectares in 2023-24. However, this still falls short of the standard area sown of 102.35 lakh hectares. The maximum escalation in maize cultivation is notably in the states of Karnataka and Maharashtra.
Farming of cotton witnessed a rise of 6.21% from 128.98 lakh hectares in 2022-23 to 137.00 lakh hectares in the following year. The increase in the cotton cultivation area at a rate of 6.21% is nearly double the rate of increase of 2.93% for all crops combined. Gujarat, Maharashtra and Telangana are the main contributors to this expansion in cotton cultivation.
Interestingly, Soybeans played a dominant role in driving the increase in cotton-cultivated areas during this Kharif season. The area under soybean cultivation increased by 5.07 lakh hectares from 112.50 lakh hectares in 2022-23 to 117.57 lakh hectares in 2023-24. Thus, out of the total 8.02 lakh hectares increase in the cotton-cultivated area, soybeans alone accounted for 5.03 lakh hectares.
Sorghum production is emphasized to make the country self-sufficient in this staple. The area under sorghum increased slightly by 0.51 lakh hectares from 56.80 to 57.31 lakh hectares. Sorghum and Finger Millet contributed to the increased area under sorghum cultivation.
The World Health Organization has pronounced the year 2024 as the International Year of Legumes. India is leading this recognition commendably. To propagate the nutritional advantages of legumes and cater to its escalating global demand, the Government is promoting legume farming via the NFSA-Pulses component of the National Food Security Act in 198 districts across 12 states. Consequently, legume cultivation registered an increase of 1.98 lakh hectares, from 65.20 lakh hectares in 2022-23 to 67.18 lakh hectares in 2023-24.