India's kharif crop area rises 6.4 million hectares to over 102 million ha

The area under Kharif crops in the country has risen by over 6.4 million hectares to 102.19 million hectares so far this season, compared to the acreage of 95.76 million ha as of date last year. It is also about 1.3 million ha more than the crop area in 2008, which was a record production year.

Sowing of all major crops this year has been more than that in the last kharif. The area under rice has grown to about 35.28 million ha compared to last year's coverage of 33.14 million ha.

The area under pulses this kharif season is up 2.14 million tonnes compared to last year and 2.87 million ha less compared to the area during 2008 kharif.

The area under pulses has gone up by 1.83 million hectares this kharif to about 11.59 million ha compared to last year's coverage of 9.77 million ha. It is also up 1.17 million tonnes from the record crop year of 2008.

The area under jowar, however, is down 0.38 lakh ha at 20.55 ha compared with last year's kharif coverage of 30.93 lakh ha.

Bajra is sown in about 8.64 million ha, up 1.2 lakh ha compared to last year's coverage of 8.52 million ha.