Agriculture ministry says rains to aid rabi harvest as sowing nears end

The agriculture ministry on Friday said rain and cold weather, seen over several parts of North and Central India since the last few days, would aid rabi sowing, nullifying the impact of high temperature of the past. There is stable temperature since last week and the Met Department has projected the possibility of rainfall in many parts of the country in the coming week. Sowing of rabi (winter) crops like wheat started from October and was almost coming to an end.

The rabi crops have been under pressure due to dry winter following two consecutive drought years, raising concerns over production. According to the latest data, till Friday rabi crops have been sown on 58.99 million hectares, around 1.8 million hectares less than the year-ago period. Around 63.3 million hectares is normally covered under rabi crops every year.