Major Kharif crops except rice cover more area than last year

New Delhi, Aug 17 (UNI) The total coverage of kharif rice has gone up to 278.37 lakh ha as compared to 281.26 lakh hectare at this time last year, the weekly Crop Weather Watch Group meeting of the Ministry of Agriculture was informed here today.

The area coverage of kharif crops as compared to August 17 last year has gone up considerably as per data compiled by Agriculture Ministry. Rice area coverage is marginally less.

Transplanting of rice is in progress in Andhra Pradesh, J&K, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The sowing is at ending stage in Gujarat and Haryana. Transplanting is at peak in rest of the states.

Total coarse cereals have covered an area of 195.27 lakh ha as compared to 186.57 lakh ha at this time last year.

Cotton has been sown in 87.45 lakh ha as compared to 82.49 lakh ha last year. Out of this, 53.32 lakh hectare is under Bt cotton.

Sugarcane coverage is reported to be 51.04 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 164.65 lakh ha as compared to 152.25 lakh ha on August 16, last year. Soyabean has been sown in 8% and groundnut in 15% higher area as compared to that in 2006.

Pulses cover an area of 107.1 lakh ha against 98.46 lakh ha up to this time the last year.

UNI