Sowing area under kharif crops such as oilseeds, coarse cereals, pulses and cotton has increased sharply in the ongoing season despite deficit rainfall in the last one month.
However, area under paddy has declined marginally to 89.59 lakh hectare so far from 94.73 lakh hectare in the year-ago period.
"The total kharif sown area as on July 10, 2015, as per reports received from states, stands at 445.11 lakh hectare as compared to 275.10 lakh hectare on the day last year," Agriculture Ministry said in a statement.
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According to the official data, significant increase has been recorded in oilseeds sowing this season, reaching 101.26 lakh hectare as against 22.24 lakh hectare in the year-ago period as on date.
Similarly, pulses acreage has touched 32.61 lakh hectares and that of coarse cereals rose to 81.80 lakh hectares from 38.36 lakh hectares in the year-ago period.
Sowing area of cotton, too, increased to 87.83 lakh hectares, from 45.10 lakh hectares.
According to India Meteorological Department, from June 1 until July 8, the country registered an overall deficit rainfall of four per cent.
However, IMD has forecast 8 per cent and 10 per cent deficient rains for July and August, respectively.
Meanwhile, Agriculture Secretary Siraj Hussain has said that there is no threat to paddy crop despite IMD's projection of deficient rains in July and August.
