While a pickup in rice sowing during the month of July may hint towards rice output seeing a marginal rise this year, production of pulses is estimated to fall with any drastic changes unlikely as the sowing for autumn crops nears end.
According to records from the Punjab Agriculture Department (PAU), this year, rice area has been recorded at 31.60 lakh hectares till date, including 5.48 lakh hectares of Basmati and 26.12 lakh hectares under water-intensive paddy (non-Basmati).
Delayed rains had hit Kharif sowing in June but with the monsoon current gathering pace and ample rains in July, overall acreage has now surpassed year-ago levels. Rainfall during August-September holds key