Rice sowing down marginally, pulses up so far this kharif

Sowing area under paddy is lower marginally to 38.93 lakh hectares, while pulses acreage has gone up to 18.8 lakh hecatres so far in the ongoing kharif season.

Sowing operation in the kharif season begins normally with the onset of southwest monsoon and picks up pace from July. Paddy, tur, moong, urad, soyabean, sunflower seed and cotton are the main crops grown in this season.

"The total sown area as on June 30, 2017, as per reports received from states, stands at 222.30 lakh hectares as compared to 187.03 lakh hectares at this time last year," an official statement said.

Rice has been sown/transplanted in 38.93 lakh hectares so far this Kharif season as against 39.08 lakh hectares in the same period last year. Pulses acreage rose to 18.8 lakh hectares from 13.04 lakh hectares.

Area under coverage for coarse cereals stood at 38.12 lakh hectares as against 35.41 lakh hectares. Oilseeds area is up at 25.90 lakh hectares from 28.35 lakh hectares.

In case of cash crops, sugarcane has been sown in 47.52 lakh hectares of area so far this season as against 44.82 lakh hectares in the year-ago period, while that of cotton stands at 46.1 lakh hectare as against 19.07 lakh hectares.

Jute area is down to 6.93 lakh hectares from 7.25 lakh hectares.

With monsoon rains expected to be normal this year, the government is targeting yet another bumper foodgrain and horticulture production in the new crop year 2017-18.

However, bumper production has resulted in fall in prices in the local markets, causing distress to farmers who in many states are protesting seeking loan waiver and better prices.

(This article has not been edited by DNA's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)