New Delhi, April 30 -- While summer crops contribute a relatively small share to India's total farm output, gains in acreage-especially in fast-growing crops like pulses, oilseeds, and coarse cereals-can help cushion short-term supply shocks and lay the groundwork for a robust kharif season.

The average area sown during the summer is around 7.1 million hectares, though this varies each year based on rainfall and climatic conditions. While the kharif and rabi seasons remain the most productive, summer crops serve a supplementary role. Summer output is not reported separately; it is included in the kharif production estimates released by the agriculture ministry.

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