Wheat sowing has declined by 27 per cent to 152.56 lakh hectares so far this rabi season due to lack of moisture content in soil and late harvest of kharif crops.
Area under coverage for wheat, a major rabi crop, stood at 208.64 lakh hectare in the year-ago period.
"As per preliminary reports received from the states, the total area sown under rabi crops as on December 4, 2015, stands to 370.28 lakh hectares," an official statement said.
Total area under rabi (winter-sown) crops stood at 438.77 lakh hectares in the same period last year.
"Wheat has been sown/transplanted in 152.56 lakh hectares, pulses in 100.42 lakh hectares, coarse cereals in 46.71 lakh hectares. Area sown under oilseeds is 61.89 lakh hectares and Rice is 8.7 lakh hectares," it added.
Area under coverage for rice is down at 8.70 lakh hectares so far in the ongoing rabi season from 11.15 lakh hectares in the year-ago period.
Pulses area stood at 100.42 lakh hectares so far this reabi season against 106.93 lakh hectares in the year-ago period.
However, coarse cereals acreage is up at 46.71 lakh hecatres against 43.04 lakh hectares in the year-ago period.
In non-food grain category, oilseeds area is also down to 61.89 lakh hectares from 69.01 lakh hectares.
According to farm scientists, wheat sowing has not yet picked up due to less soil moisture following deficient monsoon rains. Also, the harvesting of kharif crops got delayed this year.
"In view of moisture stress conditions in many states for rabi crops sowing, advisories are being given to farmers for use of suitable seeds/crops and technologies," Minister of State for Agriculture Mohanbhai Kundaria said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.
