As per reports received from the States, the total area sown under Rabi crops as on today stands at over 600 lakh hectares as compared to around 566 lakh hectare this time last year. The Rabi crop sowing is 6.5 pre cent higher than the last year level. Wheat has been sown in over 303 lakh hectares so for as compared with sowing of around 282 lakh hectares on this day last season.
The area under pulses also moved up 13.4 per cent to over 152 lakh hectares, while that under oil seeds increased 8 per cent to near 81 lakh hectares. However, the area under rice has declined 27.4 per cent to 12.74 lakh hectares. The cropped under coarse cereals also fell 6.6 per cent to 53.60 lakh hectares.