Kharif acreage tops 105 mn hectares, pulses at five-year best

Sowing of kharif crops touched 105.44 million hectares during the week that ended on Friday, almost 4.16 per cent more than the corresponding period last year.

A big rise in area has been on pulses, where the total acreage at the end of Friday stood at 14.39 million hectares, almost 30 per cent more than last year and among the best in more than five years.

Oilseeds were planted in around 18.69 million hectares, which was around two per cent more than the corresponding period of last year. Coarse cereals were sown in around 18.78 million hectares, which was over six per cent more than the same period last year.

With sowing almost complete in most parts of the country, there is little expectation of any big change in acreage.

This year cotton acreage suffered due to whitefly attack and shift towards pulses and the total area planted during the current kharif season was estimated to be around 10.21 million hectares, which was 11 per cent less than the same period last year.