Sowing of rabi crops in the India has crossed 591.5 lakh hectares (ha), as on January 28, a drop of 2.9% as compared to 609.31 lakh ha at this time of the season last year.
The major rabi crop-wheat, which is in the growing stage and will be harvested from March-has seen a drop in area by 4.4% from a year earlier at 29.25 million hectare as of Thursday. Farmers need to watch out for the yellow pest infestation, as the weather is conducive for its spread.
Area under chana (chickpea), a key rabi pulse, has fallen 0.3% to 8.55 million hectares. In the case of maize, the drop has been 1.9% at 1.46 million hectares. Area under the key rabi oilseed, mustard, was also lower, by 1% at 6.45 million hectares.