Srinagar, Aug 04 (KNO): Jammu and Kashmir has recorded Kharif crop sowing over 4.13 lakh hectares as on July 13, 2026, against 4.46 lakh hectares during the corresponding period last year, showing a decline of 0.33 lakh hectares, according to data furnished by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare in the Lok Sabha.
The data, accessed by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), was provided by the Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Ramnath Thakur, in reply to an unstarred question raised by Shri Anand Bhadauria. The MP had sought details on the impact of deficient rainfall and delayed monsoon on Kharif crops; State-wise area sown against normal area; drought relief and irrigation support; availability of seeds; contingency plans; and financial assistance for mitigating crop losses.
As per the official annexure, Jammu and Kashmir’s normal Kharif crop area for the June-September period is 5.90 lakh hectares. Against this, 4.13 lakh hectares had been sown as on July 13, 2026, compared to 4.46 lakh hectares on the corresponding date in 2025. The official table records a decrease of 0.33 lakh hectares over last year.
The figures indicate that the area sown in J&K by July 13 was below the normal Kharif area, with the current sowing standing at around 70 per cent of the normal area. The PDF, however, does not provide a separate Jammu and Kashmir-wise rainfall figure or attribute the UT’s sowing decline specifically to deficient rainfall.
The Ministry said Kharif 2026-27 sowing operations are still underway and the first advance estimates for all major Kharif crops for the 2026-27 agricultural year have not yet been released. At the national level, current sowing was stated to be five per cent lower than the corresponding period last year.
Thakur said the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has issued advisories to States and UT Administrations for pre-season planning, district-level crop and variety selection, State-level reserves of early-maturing and short-duration seeds under the National Seed Reserve framework, activation of contingency seed reserves before monsoon onset and monitoring of seed quality and quantity during peak demand.
He said District Agriculture Contingency Plans have been updated for 342 districts jointly by ICAR-CRIDA and State Governments. These plans include strategies for delayed monsoon onset and contingency measures for mid-season and terminal drought conditions.
The Ministry said ICAR has also developed Standard Operating Procedures for Krishi Vigyan Kendras to implement the contingency plans, including need-based planning, coordination with agriculture and other departments, real-time agro-advisories, capacity building, awareness generation and feedback mechanisms.
As per the National Policy on Disaster Management, State Governments are primarily responsible for providing relief measures at the ground level in notified calamities. Relief is undertaken through the State Disaster Response Fund, while additional assistance from the National Disaster Response Fund may be considered in disasters of a severe nature following the prescribed procedure. The Ministry clarified that such assistance is provided as relief and not as compensation for losses suffered or claimed—(KNO)