Wheat sowing starts on a slow pace

Harvesting of paddy has been delayed because the southwest monsoon gathered pace only during the second half of the June to September season

Sowing of wheat, the main foodgrain grown during the rabi season has started on slow pace because of late kharif harvest. According to an official statement, till November 9, wheat has been sown in around 2.18 million hectares of land, 22% less than last year. In total wheat is sown in around 28.64 million hectares of land every year, bulk of which is in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

“Wheat sowing has started on slow note mainly because of delayed harvest of kharif crops mainly paddy and also the ongoing the festival season,” a senior official said. He said sowing would gather pace once paddy harvest and festivals are over.

 

Harvesting of paddy has been delayed because the southwest monsoon, which provides around 70% of the total rainfall in the country, gathered pace only during the second half of the June to September season.

Among other crops, pulses has been sown in around 3.27 million hectares of land, almost 1.34 million hectares less than the area covered during the same period last year, while oilseeds has been sown in 4.32 million hectares, around 800,000 hectares more than last year. In total rabi crops are sown in around 61.37 million hectares of land across the country in the entire season. Sowing starts around late October  and harvest starts from February onwards. Wheat, mustard and pulses are the main crops sown during the rabi season.