Kharif sowing has gained momentum in Maharashtra following the revival of the southwest monsoon.
According to the Agriculture Commissioner’s Office, sowing has been completed on over 6.51 million hectares, covering 45 per cent of the state’s average Kharif area of 14.44 million hectares, excluding sugarcane, as of the 7th of July.
Including sugarcane plantations, sowing and planting have been completed on 6.58 million hectares, accounting for 42 per cent of the total area.
Region-wise, Amravati division has recorded the highest sowing at 58 per cent, followed by Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Nashik divisions with 50 per cent each.
Latur has achieved 44 per cent sowing, Nagpur 39 per cent, Pune 22 per cent, Kolhapur 15 per cent and Konkan 4 per cent. Officials said that delayed monsoon rains had slowed agricultural operations in the Konkan region, but recent rainfall has accelerated sowing activities.
Among crops, oilseeds have recorded 60 per cent sowing, followed by cotton at 49 per cent, pulses at 37 per cent and cereals at 30 per cent. Most of the sown crops are at the germination and early vegetative stage.
The Agriculture Department expects the pace of sowing to increase further in the coming days with improved rainfall across the state.