The Hindu Business Line : Area under foodgrains shows declining trend

Bangalore, Aug 3 The crisis in agriculture is reflected not just in stagnating food output, but also in the decline in gross cultivated area and yields per hectare of foodgrains.

Over the decade, the area under rice and wheat has remained virtually the same, whereas that under coarse grains has fallen sharply. The area under pulses has increased by two million hectares since 1999-2000.

In a year alone, or between 2007-08 and 2008-09, the gross cropped area under foodgrains fell by three lakh hectares. While the area under rice increased by 1.7 million hectares, that under wheat fell by three lakh hectares. In the case of pulses, the drop in acreage was still more pronounced, at six lakh hectares. Gross acreage under oilseeds increased by a million hectares.

Growth rate deceleration

Given a situation of stagnant yields, a fall in acreage under foodgrains tends to get reflected in deceleration in growth rate. For instance, a fall in gross cropped area from 123 million hectares in 1999-00 to 121 million hectares in 2000-01 shows up in the form of zero farm sector growth in 2000-01, against 2.7 per cent growth in 1999-00.

Similarly, agriculture sector growth fell from 4.9 per cent in 2007-08 to 1.6 per cent in 2008-09. The gross cropped area under foodgrains in 2008-09, at 123.8 million hectares, is about five lakh hectares lower than the acreage in 1970-71.

In the case of cereals, the gross cropped area has fallen by nearly three million hectares since 1990-91, to thecurrent level of 100.8 million hectares.

Rice production

The major rice-producing states of West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh account for 41 per cent of rice output. Gross cropped area under rice is just marginally higher than 1999-00 levels.

Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana account for 66 per cent of total wheat output. Gross cropped area under wheat is about the same as in 1999-00. The area under jowar has fallen by more than three million hectares since 1999-00 to a current level of 7.7 million hectares, while that under bajra is roughly the same, at 8.7 million hectares.

More Stories on : Cultivation | Karnataka

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
Mercury up as weak monsoon extends to more areas

Area under foodgrains shows declining trend

Spot rubber prices improve

Global white sugar breaches $500 a tonne

Kerala launches cashew cultivation programme

Cardamom prices ease

Pepper futures shoot up