Photo: MintNew Delhi: Sowing of rain-fed kharif crops has begun with the onset of south-west monsoon, the Union agriculture ministry said on Friday. Sugarcane has been planted so far in 4.4 million hectares, higher than the area of 4.1 million hectares last year. The seasonal area — or the total area where the crop is planted during the entire season — under kharif crops is 106.2 million hectares. Although area planted so far is lower than the 7.7 million hectares sown by this time last year, sowing is expected to pick up as the monsoon progresses. The area under rice, the main kharif crop, stands at 0.57 million hectares so far, compared to 0.64 million hectares by this time last year.

Source: Mint June 10, 2016 14:48 UTC