The total area sown under kharif crop as on September 8 stood at 1,041.17 lakh hectares as against 1,049.87 lakh hectares at this time last year, the Agriculture Ministry said on Friday.
According to the ministry, rice has been sown in 371.46 lakh hectares, pulses in 139.17 lakh hectares, coarse cereals in 183.43 lakh hectares, sugarcane in 49.88 lakh hectares, oil seeds in 169.20 lakh hectares, jute and mesta in 7.05 lakh hectares and cotton in 120.98 lakh hectares.
While the area sown under sugarcane and cotton is higher this year, the area under rice, pulses, coarse cereals, oil seeds and jute and mesta has reduced.
--IANS
spk/ahm/vt