Amid rising prices, area sown under pulses has increased by 12 per cent while paddy acreage rose marginally during 2015 kharif season.
According to Agriculture Ministry's sowing data released today, the area under coverage for paddy increased to 375.93 lakh hectares so far in this kharif season (summer-sown), from 375.21 lakh hectares in the year-ago period.
Kharif sowing starts with the onset of monsoon during the first week of June and continues till September end.
Pulse acreage went up to 114.58 lakh hectares, from 102.56 lakh hectares. Farmers are putting more area under this crop category in view of a sharp rise in retail prices, which have gone up to Rs 150 per kg.
Total area sown under kharif crops as on October 1, has reached 1,031.37 lakh hectares compared with 1,017.86 lakh hectare last year at this time, an official statement said.
Coarse cereals sowing area also increased to 183.16 lakh hectares so far this kharif season from 178.44 lakh hectares in the same period last year.
In non-foodgrain category, area under coverage for oilseeds is up but sowing has declined for cotton.
Oilseeds sowing went up to 184.64 lakh hectares from 178.24 lakh hectares. However, cotton acreage fell to 116.41 lakh hectares as against 126.55 lakh hectares.
Rainfall in the country was 14 per cent lower than normal during the Southwest monsoon which officially ended yesterday.
This year's summer rains were particularly affected by the El-Nino phenomenon, with the deficiency for the four-month long season being more or less in line with the forecast of the Indian Meteorological Department(IMD) which predicted 12 per cent deficit.
Around 55 per cent of the country, however, received "normal" rainfall, the IMD said.
