Record Kharif Seeding Progress
VANCOUVER - Jun 27/15 - SNS -- Planting this year's monsoon season or kharif pulse crops leapt forward over the past week, more than doubling to 1.1 million hectares. In the process, farmers in that country set a record for the amount of pulses planted by the end of June.
The previous record for planting progress in June was set in 2013, when the final seeded area for kharif pulses ended up at 10.68 million hectares, well off the record area planted in 2010, when India harvested a 12 million hectares. That year, only 515,000 hectares were planted in June.
Monsoon rainfall coverage is a critical factor in determining how much land will be put into crops. Widespread coverage from this year's monsoon is two weeks earlier than normal. This seems to contradict initial forecasts that rains would be below average, at around 93% of normal because of El Nino. Private forecasters have consistently disagreed with the official prediction. At this early stage, they look to be more correct than the government.
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