India’s Rabi Crops Sowing Down by 4.14 Million Hectares

India’s rabi crop sowing area coverage has recorded a negative growth at 61.79 million hectares as on February 20, 2015, registering a drop of 4.14 million hectares according to data released by directorate of economics and statistics, Indian agriculture ministry.

During the same period last year, rabi crops sowing area was recorded at 65.93 million tonnes, the data adds.

Area under wheat sowing was down to 30.63 million hectares, as compared to 31.53 million tonnes sowed till the same period last year.

The area under sowing of total coarse cereals also registered a drop of 233,000 hectares at 5.77 million tonnes, against the last year’s 6 million tonnes.

Pulses sowing area were at 14.59 million hectares, while the last year’s sowing area coverage was 16.22 million hectares, whereas, sowing area under total oilseeds was at 8.09 million hectares, as compared to 9.02 million hectares last year, as per the data.

The area under sowing of rice was at 2.70 million hectares this year, while the last year’s figure was 3.15 million hectares.