Wheat sowing area down by 7.23%

NEW DELHI: Area under wheat cultivation has dropped by 7.23 per cent to 259.37 lakh hectare so far in the ongoing rabi season due to lack of soil moisture, according to the Agriculture Ministry data.

Wheat was planted in 279 lakh hectare in the same period last season. Sowing of wheat and other rabi crops begins from October, and harvesting from April.

"Wheat sowing has progressed slowly due to lack of moisture. Moisture is one essential condition for seed germination," a senior Agriculture Ministry official said.

Total area sown to all rabi crops was down at 520.07 lakh hectare as on December 23 of this rabi season as compared with 540.17 lakh hectare in the same period last season.

Besides wheat, oilseeds have also been sown in less area at 69.64 lakh hectare till December 23 of the rabi season, as compared with 74.35 lakh hectare in the year-ago period.

Even rice cultivation was undertaken in only 12.17 lakh hectare as against 13.62 lakh hectare in the year-ago period.

However, sowing of pulses and coarse cereals was better than the year-ago period.

Pulses area was up slightly at 125.95 lakh hectare from 124.77 lakh hectare, while that of coarse cereals increased to 52.94 lakh hectare from 47.83 lakh hectare.