The sowing of paddy so far in the current kharif season has increased by 4.50% to 277.89 lakh hectares as compared with the last year, as per information provided by Agriculture Ministry. The area under paddy last year at the same time was 265.90 lakh hectares. The area under other kharif crops such as oilseeds, coarse cereals, pulses and cotton has also increased.
Besides, area under pulses has increased to 92.64 lakh hectares from 81.24 lakh hectares, acreage of coarse cereals rose to 158.62 lakh hectares from 141.43 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 have also come down to 7.79 lakh hectares from 8.11 lakh hectares.