Rabi crop sowing crosses 589.95 lakh hectares

Sowing of rabi crops in the India has crossed 589.95 lakh hectares (ha), as on January 22, as compared to 607.90 lakh ha at this time of the season last year. The area sown to coarse cereals has increased over the previous year, but that under oilseeds, pulses, wheat and rice has declined in the current season.

Wheat has been sown in 291.97 ha as on 22 January against 305.6 ha last year on this date. The area under rabi rice was lower at 22.28 ha as on 22 January compared with 23.99 ha same time last year. However, the area under coarse cereals increased 4.8% to 59.3 ha as on 22 January over a year ago level.

The area sown to pulses has shown a decline of 2.7% to 139.08 ha as on 22 January. The area sown to oilseeds witnessed 1.8% fall to 77.32 ha as on 22 January.