The area under wheat, which is the major foodgrain grown in winter, has increased by over five per cent to 137.02 lakh hectare so far in the 2009-10 Rabi season in the country.
Releasing the weekly update on acreage of Rabi crops, the Agriculture Ministry today said data received from states show that rabi sowing is progressing well.
The area under wheat touched 137.02 lakh hectares (LH) till November 26, as against 130.34 LH in the corresponding period last year. Till last week, the area was higher by 10 per cent against five per cent now. Wheat is sown from November and harvested during March-April.
The government is eyeing production of an additional 1.5 million tonnes of wheat in 2009-10 season by increasing the area coverage. The minimum support price (MSP) of wheat has been hiked by Rs 20 to Rs 1,100 a quintal.
Rice acreage has increased to 2.24 LH as against 1.14 LH in the year-ago period. The government is focusing on Rabi season rice to narrow the gap in overall rice production after an expected shortfall of 15 million tonnes during the Kharif season.
The areas covered under coarse cereals have declined to 50.40 LH from 54.52 LH due to lower acreage in jowar, even though there is improvement in barley and maize, the official data showed.
Oilseeds acreage fell to 75.80 LH from 76.32 LH in the review period. But the main Rabi oilseed– mustard– witnessed a jump at 60.11 LH from 58.40 LH. Area under pulses has gone up to 94.17 LH from 91.93 LH, the data said.