Sowing of rabi crops has started in some parts of the country, with preliminary reports placing the total sowing at 58.34 lakh hectares (lh) as on October 30, against 58.48 lakh hectare in the same period last year.
The area in which wheat has been sown/transplanted was lower than last year at 1.20 lh, against 2.06 lh last year, according to an official release. Pulses, too, were marginally lower at 20.65 lh, against 21.31 lh last year. Coarse cereals, however, covered a larger area at 27.04 lh, against 14.29lh in the same period last year.
Oilseeds was sown in only 9.43 lh, against 20.83 lh in the same period last year, while rice has been sown/transplanted in 0.02 lh, the release added.