Sowing area under pulses, coarse cereals, oilseeds and cotton has increased sharply in the ongoing Kharif (summer-sown) season so far following good rains last month.
Paddy acreage has also risen marginally to 54.03 lakh hectare from 53.56 lakh hectare in the year-ago period.
"Rice has been sown/transplanted in 54.03 lakh hectares, pulses in 22.61 lakh hectares, coarse cereals in 43.72 lakh hectares, oilseeds in 74.17 lakh hectares and cotton in 60.16 lakh hectares," an official statement said.
According to the Agriculture Ministry data, area under coverage for pulses has jumped more than two-fold to 22.61 lakh hectares so far this year, from 9.72 lakh hectares in the corresponding period of Kharif 2014.
Acreage of coarse cereals has risen to 43.72 lakh hectares from 28.92 lakh hectares in the year-ago period, while area under coverage for oilseeds jumped five-fold to 74.17 lakh hectares from 14.73 lakh hectares.
Sowing area of cotton, too, increased to 60.16 lakh hectares, from 35.42 lakh hectares.
Total area under Kharif crops has also risen to 306.06 lakh hectares so far this year, from 194.25 lakh hectares, despite weather office's projection of deficient monsoon this year.
According to India Meteorological Department, cumulative rainfall for the country as a whole, during this year's monsoon has been 13 per cent above the Long Period Average (LPA) till July 1. Rainfall activity was excess over central India and northwest India.
However, IMD has forecast 8 per cent and 10 per cent deficient rains for July and August, respectively.
Yesterday, Agriculture Secretary Siraj Hussain said there is no threat to paddy crop despite IMD's projection of deficient rains in July and August.
