NEW DELHI, 22 May 2020: Even during lockdown, summer crop sowing and procurement has recorded an increase, as compared to the same period last year.

According to figures releases by minister of agriculture & family affairs, summer rice area have increased to 34.87 lakh hectares, as compared to 25.29 lakh hectares recorded during the same period last year.

Pulses sowing also increased to 12.82 lakh hectares, against 9.67 lakh hectares, Coarse cereals was increased to 10.28 lakh hectares, against 7.30 lakh hectares, while sowing of oilseeds too increased from 7.34 lakh hectares to 9.28 lakh hectares.

Increase in procurement of pulses, oilseeds

During the period, over 5.89 lakh metric tonnes of gram (Chana), 4.97 lakh metric mustard and 4.99 lakh metric tonnes of toor has been procured by National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED) during the lockdown period.

Wheat procurement during the Rabi marketing season (RMS) 2020-21 has purchased close to 326.96 metric tonnes of wheat of the total of 337.48 Lakh metric tonnes arrived in the Food Corporation of India (FCI).

Over 9.55 crore farmers received INR 19100 crore

Under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) Scheme during the lockdown period from 24.3.2020 till date, about 9.55 crore farmer families have been benefitted and an amount of INR 19100.77 crore has been released so far.

The ministry said that it is taking several measures to facilitate the farmers and farming activities at field level during the lockdown period in the wake of Covid 19 pandemic.

Image credit: Indian Express