Erratic monsoon rains hit kharif sowing, pulls down area coverage by 12%

Erratic monsoon rains have slowed kharif sowing of food grains, pulling down crop area coverage by 12 per cent (as on August 10, 2019) compared to same period of the previous year.
 
The total food grains sown area as on August 10 stood at 3.17 million hectares as compared to 3.63 million hectares at this time last year.
 
Odisha received deficient rainfall in June, normal rains in July and excess rainfall in August.
 
Cereals have been sown on 2.8 million hectares against 3.2 million hectares sown last year. Pulses are sown over 0.377 million hectares as on