Uneven rains impact rice sowing, area under crop shrinks by 2 mn hectares

Rice has been sown on 50 million hectares as on August 23, about 23% lower than area covered during same period last year

Excess rainfall in 20 per cent of the 36 meteorological sub-divisions is impeding crop sowing patterns in the country. Though sowing across key crops as of August 23 has improved, concern remains around the sowing of rice, the key kharif crop, which has seen more than two million hectares contraction from a year ago period.

Rice has been sown on 50 million hectares as on August 23, about 23 per cent less than area covered during the same period last year.

Of the 36 metrological sub-divisions,29 have recorded excess and normal rainfall , of which seven sub-divisions recorded “excess” rainfall