The sowing area of rice and coarse cereals has increased under Kharif crops this year as compared to last year. According to data released by Union Agriculture Ministry today, the sowing area of rice has increased from 345 lakh hectares to over 360 lakh hectares. The sowing area of coarse cereals has also increased from 173 lakh hectares to over 176 lakh hectares.

However, the sowing area of pulses has declined from 126 lakh hectares to around 115 lakh hectares. The overall sowing of Kharif crops has marginally increased from one thousand twenty-one lakh hectares to over one thousand twenty-two hectares this year.