As against average of 31.9 lakh hectare, rabi crop sowing has been done in over 34.58 lakh hectare so far.
The state could have another bumper rabi crop in the current season, as the area under cultivation in the current rabi season has gone up sharply as compared with last year, figures released by the agriculture ministry show.
According to officials, rabi crop sowing has been done in 34.58 lakh hectare in the current season as of January first week. This is more than 8% higher than the average sowing area of 31.9 lakh hectare in the last three years. Rabi season sowing had been done in 29.81 lakh hectare by the end of first week of January last year.
The figures show that wheat has been sown in 12.10 lakh hectare, which is marginally lower than last year when wheat was sown in 12.53 lakh hectare.
Fodder has been sown in 4.22 lakh hectare (3.17 lakh hectare last season) in the current season, while cumin has been sown in 3.65 lakh hectare (2.44 lakh hectare last season). The state government is confident that a high yield rabi crop is in the offing.
"The overall output of the current rabi crop is expected to be higher than last year, even though wheat output could be slightly lower.
The output of castor, vegetables and some other crops is expected to exceed last year's production," said a senior official in the agriculture department.
The official, however, said that it would be difficult to match last year's growth of 17%. He also pointed out to the continuing shortage of fertiliser.
Among the other crops, the figures show that vegetables have been sown in 2.93 lakh hectare in the current rabi season as against 1.29 lakh hectare last season. Grams have been sown in 2.22 lakh hectare so far as compared with 1.97 lakh hectare last season.
Sowing of jowar, maize, sugarcane, tobacco, fennel, garlic, isabgol, onion and potato in the current rabi season is also significantly higher than last year and the previous years, the figures show.
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