Wheat sowing up by 8% this season so far

NEW DELHI: Total area under wheat crop has increased by 8 per cent to 273.97 lakh hectare across the states in the ongoing rabi season so far compared to 253.20 lakh hectare during the same period last season.

The total rabi-sown area, as per reports received from states, was at 536.37 lakh hectare in current season so far compared to 507.26 lakh hectares at this time last year, the Agriculture Ministry said in a release.

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.

Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar had also said that the foodgrains production this year is likely to break previous record of 259.29 million tonnes (MT) achieved in 2011-12 if weather remains favourable through the ongoing rabi season.

Among other rabi crops, pulses acreage has also marginally increased to 126.84 lakh hectare this season from 126.70 lakh hectare last year, taking advantage of rains.

Area under oilseeds has increased to 79.50 lakh hectares during the period from 76.30 lakh hectares last year.

Total area under rice sown in the rabi season has also risen sharply to 2.14 lakh hectares during the week ending today from 1.74 lakh hectares in the year-ago period.

However, the area under coarse cereals has decreased to 53.92 lakh hectares, from 54.81 lakh hectares a year ago.

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