New Delhi: Farmers in India have sown Kharif crops across 1,077.82 lakh hectares so far as on September 1, as against 1,073.22 lakh hectares in the same period of last year, according to the latest data from the Agriculture Ministry.
Sugarcane farmers have so far sown crops across 59.91 lakh hectares, as against 55.65 lakh hectares last year, the farm ministry data showed.
Rice sowing is at 398.08 lakh hectares, as against 383.79 lakh hectares same period last year.
For pulses, comprising Arhar, Urad, Moong, and Kulthi, among others, the sowing is, however, lower year-on-year. Agriculture ministry data showed the total pulses sowing so far this Kharif is 119.09 lakh hectares, as against 130.13 lakh hectares last year.
Further, the sowing of oilseeds, which groundnut, soybean, sunflower, sesame, and others too were marginally lower at 190.11 lakh hectares, as against 191.91 lakh hectares.
India has three cropping seasons — Summer, Kharif, and Rabi.
Crops that are sown during October and November and the produce harvested from January depending on maturity are Rabi. Crops sown during June-July and dependent on monsoon rains are harvested in October-November are kharif. Crops produced between Rabi and Kharif are Summer crops.
