80% rabi crop sowing completed in C'garh

Planting of winter crops has been completed in 80 per cent of the total crop area so far in Chhattisgarh, a state minister said today.
"Farmers have completed sowing of rabi crops on around 15 lakh hectares of land as against the target of 18.51 lakh hectares in the state," Agriculture Minister Brijmohan Agrawal said.
Food grain, pulses, oilseeds and vegetables are being sown, he added.
At present, grains, including wheat, rice, maize and others, have been sown on 2.65 lakh hectares as against the target of sowing on 3.65 lakh hectares in this season, the minister said.
Similarly, the department has set a target of sowing pulses on 3.64 lakh hectares.

"Till date, sowing of pulses has been completed on nearly 2.99 lakh hectares," he said.

Besides, sowing of oilseed crops, including alsi, mustard, toriya, til, sunflower and others on 2.44 lakh hectares have been completed so far, he added.
Vegetables have been cultivated on 1.68 lakh hectares, he added.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Raman Singh has asked farmers to avoid cultivation of paddy during the summer and adopt farming of wheat and grams.
As a part of his Jansanvad programme, Singh today spoke to some farmers over phone here from his official residence during which he gave suggestions to them, an official statement said.

"The chief minister has once again advised farmers not to grow paddy in summer and instead cultivate wheat and grams," the release said.
In summer, underground water level generally declines and paddy crops require high quantity of water for irrigation.
Therefore, growing crops, which need less water for irrigation can be helpful in maintaining water level, the release quoted the CM as saying.
Farmers should focus on farming of wheat and grams in summer, he added.