The total area under kharif crops, including paddy, has increased by 12 per cent to 819.99 lakh hectares so far in the ongoing kharif season on account of good monsoon rains.

The acreage of paddy, a major kharif (summer-sown) crop, rose marginally by 3.51 per cent to 239.87 lakh hectares so far from 231.43 lakh hectares in the year-ago period, according to the Agriculture Ministry data.

“Sowing of kharif crops shown a steady increase during this week. The total sown area as on 2nd August, as per reports received from states, stands at 819.99 lakh hectare as compared to 734.57 hectare at this time last year,” an official statement said.

Sowing of kharif (summer) crops begins with the onset of southwest monsoon from June. So far, the country has received an excess of 17 per cent rainfall since the beginning of monsoon this year.

The advancement in monsoon rains has pushed area under pulses by 26.21 per cent to 79.50 lakh hectares as of now. In the same period last year, pulses were sown in 62.99 lakh hectares.

Oilseeds farmers also took up sowing in a big way taking advantage of rains and the acreage has increased to 173.21 lakh hectares so far as compared to 148.87 lakh hectares in the same period last year.

Similarly, area sown under coarse cereals has increased to 163.07 lakh hectares from 135.75 lakh hectares in the review period.

Among cash crops, cotton sowing has picked up and its acreage has increased to 108.52 lakh hectares so far this season as compared to 101.12 lakh hectares in the year-ago period.

However, sugarcane planting declined to 48.53 lakh hectares, mainly in Maharashtra and Karnataka, as against 50.06 lakh hectares in the same period last year.

Area under jute and mesta has also marginally declined to 8.29 lakh hectares from 8.35 lakh hectares in the corresponding period last year.

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