India poised for record wheat production

With wheat acreage touching 278.14 lakh hectares, the country is expecting record wheat production in the current rabi season, official data showed

Data received from states reveal that wheat has been sown in about 278.14 lakh hectares till date, compared with last year's 275.89 lakh hectares.

The area under rice, however, has so far been less. Rice sowing/transplantation has been done in about 34.92 lakh hectares till date, which is 0.17 lakh hectares less than last year's 36.59 lakh hectares. 

Oilseeds have been sown in 91.77 lakh hectares against  95.54 hectares last year, which is lower by 3.77 lakh hectares.

However, the area under pulses has increased by over 8 lakh hectares to 140.88 lakh hectares, from 132.75 lakh hectares last year. 

The comparative cropped areas this year and last year (in brackets) for major rabi crops as on 18 February are as follows:

Cereals: wheat 278.14 (275.89), rice 34.92 (36.59), jowar 45.53 (49.34), barley 7.60 (7.18), maize 11.17 (11.39);
 
Oilseeds: rapeseed and mustard 64.42 (66.60), sunflower 8.56 (11.15), groundnut 9.31 (8.10);

Pulses: gram 87.92 (83.24), lentil 15.23 (14.66), urad 7.77
(6.23), moong 6.64 (5.65).
 
The expected level of production, however, is subject to rain or hail not damaging the crop as and when it is ready for harvest.