The plan aims to maintain food security, reduce import reliance, and capitalize on agricultural export opportunities. Measures include timely delivery of high-yielding variety seeds, credit, crop insurance, micro-irrigation, and post-harvest facilities. This year's rabi crop area increased significantly, from 594.62 lakh hectares in 2021-2022 to 620.62 lakh hectares in 2022-2023.This year's total is 25.99 lakh hectares higher than the corresponding period of 2021–2022. All crops have seen an increase in area, with wheat seeing the largest increase. The increase in wheat area is 9.65 lakh hectares, from 302.61 to 312.26 lakh hectares, out of the 25.99 lakh hectares increase in all rabi crops. While rabi crop sowing is still ongoing, the area planted to wheat this year (312.26) through December 23, 2022, is greater than the normal rabi sown area (304.47) and the total sown area (304.70-). In light of the global wheat shortage crisis brought on by the Russia-Ukraine war, this expansion of wheat acreage is extremely encouraging for both our own food security and the wheat supply worldwide. As a result, record wheat area coverage and production are anticipated this year.
The Indian government is focusing on increasing oilseed production to reduce reliance on imports, aiming to meet domestic demand of 142 lakh tonnes in 2021-2022, with the area planted increasing from 93.28 lakh hectares to 101.47 lakh hectares. Compared to the typical sown area of 78.81 lakh hectares, this represents a quantum jump of 22.66 lakh hectares. It surpasses the record area of 93.33 lakh hectares that was reached in 2021–2022. Out of all crops, oilseeds have the highest rate of increase in area (9.60%). This is more than twice as fast as the overall crop growth rate of 4.37%.
The Rabi season saw a significant increase in mustard and rapeseed oil seed cultivation, with an increase of 7.32 lakh hectares from 85.35 lakh hectares in 2021-2022 to 92.67 lakh hectares in 2022-2023. This growth is attributed to increased interest in mustard cultivation, primarily due to the Special Mustard Mission's implementation. During Rabi 2022-2023, 26.50 lakh Seed Minikits of HYV with over 20 quintals per hectare were distributed to farmers in 301 districts across 18 states. Modern cultivators were given RH-106, RH-725, RH-749, RH-761, CS-58, CS-60, Giriraj, Pant Rai-20, GM-3, and PDZ-31 varieties with yield potentials between 2500 and 4000 quintals per hectare. This initiative aims to increase oil production and reduce imports.
The UN General Assembly has ratified the International Year of Millets for 2023, with over 70 countries supporting India. The government is promoting millet production in 212 districts to meet global demand, promoting sustainable agriculture and nutrition.
India's nutri-cereal cultivation area increased by 2,42 lakh hectares from 41,50 lakh hectares in 2021-2022 to 43,92 lakh hectares in 2022-2023, leading the way in IYoM celebrations and becoming the world's millet center.
State governments provide farmers with improved practices, cropping systems, and seeds of High Yielding Varieties (HYVs) to ensure food security. Farmers receive credit, weather insurance, fair prices, and government assistance. The Union Government focuses on raising crop productivity, particularly in oilseeds and pulses. Farmers receive free HYV seed minikits, technology support, and essential inputs. This will increase food grain production, meet world needs, reduce edible oil imports, and make pulses self-sufficient.
Source: Agriculture and farmer's Welfare.