Sowing of main kharif cash crops continued to lag despite revival of monsoon over peninsular India.
According to an official statement, as on Aug 7, maize has been sown in 61.7 lakh hectares, down from 68.7 lakh hectares last year. Groundnut has been sown in 45.5 lakh hectares, down from 47.2 lakh hectares, cotton has been planted in 80.8 lakh hectares as against 90.4 lakh hectares , sugarcane has been sown in 44.1 lakh hectares, down from 53 lakh hectares while pulses have been sown in around 78.4 lakh hectares, down from 93.2 lakh hectares.
