Wheat sowing up by 25% so far

NEW DELHI: The total acreage of wheat in the ongoing 2013-14 rabi season rose by 25 per cent to 127.47 lakh hectares as compared to 101.64 lakh hectares in the year-ago period, on account of good monsoon.

Area under rabi crops has also increased by 7 per cent to 314.24 lakh hectares so far this season.

"The total rabi-sown area, as per reports received from states, during the week was at 314.24 lakh hectare as compared to 294.31 lakh hectare at this time last year," the Agriculture Ministry said in a statement.

Sowing of rabi crops starts from the month of October. Bumper crop is expected this year due to good and prolonged monsoon, which will help in retaining soil moisture and support the sowing of rabi crops.

Pulses sowing has also marginally increased to 85.95 lakh hectares this season from 85.10 lakh hectares last year, taking advantage of rains.

However, the area under coarse cereals has decreased to 36.20 lakh hectares, from 41.70 lakh hectares a year ago.

Acreage of oilseeds increased to 62.42 lakh hectares during the period from 61.53 lakh hectares last year.

Among cash crops, the area under sugarcane has fell down to 1.47 lakh hectares this season from 3.70 lakh hectares during the year-ago period.

The government has set a rabi production target of 92.50 million tonnes (MT) for wheat, 12 MT for pulses, 14 MT for rice, 4.4 MT for maize and 1.5 MT for barley.