Sowing of different crop has picked up pace and rice has been sown in 144.59 lakh hectare so far, as per the preliminary data received from the Ministry of Agriculture, as compared to 96.79 lakh hectare a week back. It is however lower by 16.68 lakh hectare than 161.27 lakhs hectare at this time last year.
Besides, sugarcane has been planted in 52.81 lakh hectare which is 2.02 lakh hectare more than the area covered by sugarcane this time last year while cotton has been planted in 83.74 lakh hectare.
Similarly, coarse cereals and oilseeds have been planted in 95.43 lakh hectare and 108.84 lakh hectare respectively, while jute and mesta has been planted in 8.27 lakh hectare. Separately, pulses have been sown in 40.19 lakh hectare.