Wheat sowing area marginally down at 299.33 lakh hectares

Wheat acreage has declined by about two per cent to 299.33 lakh hectares so far in the current rabi season, according to official data.

Area under coverage for coarse cereals, pulses and oilseeds is also down in the winter sowing season compared to the year-ago period.

"Wheat's sowing area is at 299.33 lakh hectares as compared to last year's 304.25 lakh hectares," an official release said today.

Area under sowing of coarse cereals stood at 52.60 lakh hectares compared to 57.17 lakh hectares in the year-ago period.

Pulses acreage also fell to 131.34 lakh hectares against 145.86 lakh hectares in the corresponding period of last year.
 

"Similarly sowing area under total oilseeds is at 76.91 lakh hectares compared to 83.87 lakh hectares last year," the statement said.

As per Rabi crops data released by Agriculture Ministry, the total area coverage under Rabi crops stood at 566.18 lakh hectares against 597.15 lakh hectares in the year-ago period.

Sowing of rabi crops starts from October, while harvesting begins from March. Wheat is a major rabi crop.

Production of foodgrains (comprising rice, wheat, pulses and coarse cereals) in 2013-14 crop year (July-June) stood at 264.77 million tonnes.