Kharif crops acreage crosses 950 lakh ha, 78 lakh ha more than last year

Kharif crops had been sown in 950.22 lakh hectares (ha) as on August 26, which is 78.93 lakh ha more than the acreage of 871.29 lakh ha on the same date last year, an official statement said here today.

According to it, the sowing of all major crops this year is more than that in the last Kharif season.

Quoting data received from the States, the statement said paddy had been sown in 312.42 lakh ha as compared to 293.24 lakh ha on this date last year, showing an increase of 19.18 lakh ha over the same period.

Pulses have been sown in 109.04 lakh ha so far which is 19.71 lakh ha more than this time last season.

Coarse cereals have been sown in 202.37 lakh ha, 19.33 lakh ha more as compared to last year.

The acreage for oilseeds had reached 164.99 lakh ha (159.27 lakh ha on the same date last year), sugarcane 47.68 lakh ha (41.79 lakh ha), jute 7.58 lakh ha (6.92 lakh ha) and cotton 106.14 lakh ha (97.7 lakh ha), the statement added.

NNN