Wheat News: Wheat cultivation area down by 7.23%

New Delhi: According to the Agriculture Ministry data, area under wheat cultivation has dropped by 7.23% to 259.37 lakh hectare so far in the ongoing Rabi season due to lack of soil moisture.

Sowing of wheat and other Rabi crops begins from October, and harvesting from April. Wheat was planted in 279 lakh hectare in the same period last season.

A senior Agriculture Ministry official said "Wheat sowing has progressed slowly due to lack of moisture. Moisture is one essential condition for seed germination."

On December 23 of this Rabi season the total area sown to all Rabi crops was down at 520.07 lakh hectare as compared with 540.17 lakh hectare in the same period last season.

Besides wheat, as compared with 74.35 lakh hectare in the year-ago period, oilseeds have also been sown in less area at 69.64 lakh hectare till December 23 of the Rabi season.

Also rice cultivation was undertaken in only 12.17 lakh hectare as against 13.62 lakh hectare in the year-ago period and sowing of pulses and coarse cereals was better than the year-ago period.

Pulses area was up slightly at 125.95 lakh hectare from 124.77 lakh hectare, while that of coarse cereals increased to 52.94 lakh hectare from 47.83 lakh hectare.

Source: http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/