Major crops except rice cover more area than last

New Delhi, July 27 (UNI) Except rice, the area coverage of kharif crops as compared to July 26 last week has gone up considerably as per data compiled by Agriculture Ministry.

The total coverage of kharif rice has gone up to 154 lakh ha as compared to 154.27 lakh hectare at this time last year, the weekly Crop Weather Watch Group meeting of the Ministry of Agriculture was informed here today.

Transplanting of rice is in progress in almost all the States. In Assam, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Maharashtra, Punjab and West Bengal, sowing is on peak.

Total coarse cereals have covered an area of 172.77 lakh ha as compared to 154.23 lakh ha at this time last year.

Cotton has been sown in 73.73 lakh ha as compared to 66.12 lakh ha last year. Out of this, 40.37 lakh hectare is under Bt cotton.

Sugarcane coverage is reported to be 51.16 lakh hectare compared to 48.32 lakh ha last year, and jute 7.89 lakh hectare (last year 8.18 lakh ha.).

The total coverage of oilseeds so far has been 137.42 lakh ha as compared to 129.13 lakh ha on July 26 last year. Soyabean has been sown in six per cent and groundnut in 13 per cent higher area as compared to that in 2006.

UNI