Soyabean sowing has picked up pace after the monsoon became active over central India, the country’s main soyabean growing region, an official statement said on Friday.
As per government data, soyabean has been sown in around 24.82 lakh hectare from June 1 till July 4, up from 22.07 lakh hectare last year. Sowing of paddy, the main food grain grown during the kharif season has been completed in around 55.95 lakh hectare, up from 47.08 lakh hectare between June 1 to July 4. Maize has been sown in around 26.47 lakh hectare, up from 21.57 lakh hectare a year ago.
However, cotton sowing continued to be lower due to inadequate water in northern India. During June 1-July 4, cotton was sown on 18.23 lakh hectare, down from 20.31 lakh hectare a year ago. Sugarcane planting in the country was down at 42.82 lakh hectare, compared with 51.74 lakh hectare a year earlier.