Wheat, pulses register record sowing this Rabi season: Govt

Sowing area under wheat and pulses have touched record 317.81 lakh hectares and 159.72 lakh hectares, respectively, so far in the ongoing rabi (winter- sown) season on good monsoon and higher support price.
However, the acreage of paddy and coarse cereals is lower than last year's.
"As per preliminary reports received from the States, the total area sown under Rabi crops as on 3rd February 2017 stands at 645.12 lakh hectares as compared to 610.44 lakh hectare this time in 2016. Wheat and pulses have register record sowing in term of area," an official statement said.
Wheat has been sown in 317.81 lakh hectares (normal area 304.05 lakh hectare) so far in this rabi season as against 297.25 lakh hectares in the year ago period.

Area under coverage for rice, however, declined to 25.64 lakh hectares from 29.03 lakh hectares.
Pulses area rose to 159.72 lakh hectares (normal area 140.68 lakh hectares), from 143.70 lakh hectares in the same period last year. Sowing area of coarse cereals fell to 57.61 lakh hectares from 61.05 lakh hectares.
Area sown under oilseeds is higher at 84.34 lakh hectares as against 79.42 lakh hectares during the period under review.