Wheat sowing climbs 7 per cent, pulse acreage grows 11 per cent

NEW DELHI: Sowing area under wheat has risen 7 per cent to 309.6 lakh hectares while that of pulses is up 11 per cent to 155.35 lakh hectares so far in the ongoing rabi (winter-sown) season on good monsoon and higher support price.

However, the acreage of paddy and coarse cereals is lower than last year's.

"As per preliminary reports received from the states, the total area sown under rabi crops as on January 13, 2017, stands at 616.21 lakh hectares compared to 581.95 lakh hectares this time in 2016," an official statement said.

Wheat has been sown in 309.6 lakh hectares so far this rabi season, as against 289.07 lakh hectares in the same period last year.

Pulse acreage has grown to 155.35 lakh hectares, from 139.93 lakh hectares. Oilseed sowing area has risen to 81.47 lakh hectares, from 75.06 lakh hectares.

However, paddy acreage has fallen to 14.92 lakh hectares so far this rabi season, from 19.48 lakh hectares in the same period last year. Coarse cereals sowing area, too, dropped to 54.87 lakh hectares, from 58.40 lakh hectares.