Paddy sowing rises by 4.5% to 278 lakh hectares: Agriculture Ministry

NEW DELHI: Paddy sowing has increased by 4.50 per cent to 277.89 lakh hectares so far in the ongoing kharif season compared with the last year.

The area under paddy last year at the same time was 265.90 lakh hectares.

Similarly the area under other kharif crops such as oilseeds, coarse cereals, pulses and cotton has also increased.

Area under pulses has increased to 92.64 lakh hectares from 81.24 lakh hectares, acreage of coarse cereals rises to 158.62 lakh hectares from 141.43 lakh hectares, as per official data.

"The total sown area as on 7th August, as per reports received from states, stands at 847.40 lakh hectare as compared to 808.40 lakh hectare at this time last year," Agriculture Ministry said in a statement.

Area under oilseeds has increased to 157.43 lakh hectares from 152.31 lakh hectares in the last season, sugarcane acreage has also rose to 47.36 lakh hectares from 47.17 lakh hectares.

However, the area under cotton has declined to 105.68 lakh hectares from 112.24 lakh hectares in the last season, and Jute and Mesta acreage has also come down to 7.79 lakh hectares from 8.11 lakh hectares.

Meanwhile, Agriculture Secretary Siraj Hussain had said that there is no threat to paddy crop despite IMD's projection of deficient rains in July and August.