India’s Rabi Sowing Down at 56.61 Million Hectares

India’s rabi sowing has recorded a drop of over 3.09 million hectares at 56.61 million hectares as on January 9, 2015, as per the data released by Directorate of Economics and Statistics, ministry of agriculture.

During the same period last year, rabi sowing was recorded at 59.71 million hectares, the data adds.

Wheat sowing as on January 9, 2015 was recorded at 29.93 million hectares, posting a drop of 492,000 hectares, as compared to 30.42 million hectares sowed till the same period last year.

The area under sowing of total coarse cereals was also down at 5.26 million hectares, as compared to last year’s 5.71 million hectares.

Gram area sowing was also down to 8.10 million hectares as on January 9, 2015, against 9.58 million hectares and oilseeds dropped to 7.69 million hectares from 8.38 million hectares.

Area coverage under total pulses was recorded at 13.13 million hectares, while the last year’s sowing area coverage was 14.58 million hectares, the data adds.