 "Kharif sowing reduces, but still above average, courtesy cotton")
Sowing of the kharif (summer) crop has moderated to 104.9 million hectares compared to 105.7 million hectares during the previous year at the same time (mid-September), latest figures from the agriculture ministry reveal. This is still better than the five-year average of 102.4 million hectares. Agricultural yield is “expected to be same as of last year”, the government said in an official statement on Thursday.
Reduced sowing comes in the backdrop of a six per cent monsoon deficit (compared to the long-period average) till mid-September. Major agricultural regions Uttar Pradesh (31 per cent), Madhya Pradesh (25 per cent) and Vidarbha
