This year till February 3, rabi crop has been planted on around 64.5 million hectares of land. This is right around 21% more than the normal area, compared to 2015-2016, when it was 6% more and just marginally more than the year of 2013.
Both 2014 and 2015 were drought years, while 2013 was a normal Monsoon year. In 2013, the area shrouded with rabi crops was 64.4 million hectares, which is just 0.15% less than this year's acreage.
This year, wheat has been sown on around 31.78 million hectares, which was 2.1 million hectares more than 2015-16, but 0.25 million hectares more than 2013. Just 1.46 million hectares more than the average acreage covered in last five years.
In pulses, the total area covered till Friday was around 15.97 million hectares, which was 1.60 million hectares more than last year and 1.20 million hectares more than the average area covered under the same period in last five years.
In any case, compared to the last normal Monsoon year of 2013, the area covered under pulses is 0.16 million hectares more. The rabi rice acreage was projected at 3.39% less this year than the same period last year.
According to agriculture ministry data, the cereals have been planted on around 5.76 million hectares, which was 3.44% less than the same period last year.
Good rain that has occurred in last few days over northern and central parts of the country have improved the condition for the rabi crop, which was reeling under pressure due to warmer than usual wintry conditions.
Now everything depends on the weather in the remaining days of February and thereafter, mainly at the time when the actual harvest takes place.
Image Credit: food.onehowto.com
