Wheat sowing is down nearly 5 per cent so far this Rabi (winter-sowing) season at 288.98 lakh hectares, while area under coverage for pulses is lower by 2.5 per cent.
Sowing of wheat and other rabi crops has been affected because of less soil moisture following two consecutive drought years.
"As per preliminary reports received from the states, the total area sown under rabi crops as on 15th January, 2015 stands at 577.30 lakh hectares," an official statement said.
The total acreage stood at 595.78 lakh hectares in the year-ago period.
As per the data, wheat has been sown/transplanted in 288.98 lakh hectares so far this Rabi season against 303.51 lakh hectares earlier. Sowing of wheat, the main rabi crop, begins from October and harvesting starts from April.
Pulses sowing areas have declined to 136.39 lakh hectares from 139.94 lakh hectares, while rice acreage has gone down to 18.84 lakh hectares from 19.96 lakh hectares during the period.
However, coarse cereals acreage has increase to 58.18 lakh hectares from 54.58 lakh hectares.
In non-foodgrains category, area sown under oilseeds is also lower at 74.91 lakh hectares so far as against 77.79 lakh hectares in the year-ago period.
