Paddy area down 25% so far this Kharif at 45.12 lakh hectares

NEW DELHI: Paddy acreage has declined 25 per cent so far during this Kharif sowing season to 45.12 lakh hectares due to deficient monsoon rains.

Area under coverage for paddy, the main kharif crop (summer-sown), stood at 60.28 lakh hectares in the year-ago period.

Sowing area of pulses has declined by 66 per cent to 7.5 lakh hectares as on July 4 as against 21.84 lakh hectares in the corresponding period of last year.

Oilseeds acreage has fallen sharply by 77 per cent to 14.49 lakh hectares, while coarse cereals sowing is down by 58 per cent to 27.93 lakh hectares in the period under review.

Monsoon rainfall for the country as a whole during June 2014 was below normal by 43 per cent, according to the Met Department.

Sugarcane has been planted in 43.92 lakh hectares so far this year compared with 45.20 lakh hectares in the year ago period.

Area under coverage for cotton fell to 35.42 lakh hectares so far compared with 55.77 lakh hectares in the corresponding period of last year.

"As per the latest reports of sowing of kharif crops, kharif sowing area has crossed 182.40 lakh hectare," an official statement said.

Total Kharif sowing in the year-ago period stood at 318.90 lakh hectares in the year-ago period.

India produced a record 264.38 million tonnes of foodgrains in the 2013-14 crop year (July-June) on the back of good monsoon last year.