The Hindu Business Line : Wheat acreage rises by 22 lakh hectares

Farmers have so far planted wheat on an additional 22 lakh hectares (lh) this year. As on Friday, a total 232.59 lh is reported to have been covered under the crop, which is 10.4 per cent more than 210.62 lh last year.

Up in all States

All major wheat-growing States have reported significantly higher cumulative acreages over the previous year: Uttar Pradesh-77.68 lh (69.31 lh), Punjab-33.16 (32.96 lh), Haryana-23 (21.70 lh), Madhya Pradesh-35.62 lh (30.90 lh), Rajasthan-19.10 lh (15.89 lh), Gujarat-9.22 lh (6.93 lh), Maharashtra-8.57 lh (8.10 lh), Bihar-12.96 lh (12.40 lh), Uttaranchal-3.23 lh (3.12 lh), Karnataka-2.39 lh (1.85 lh) and West Bengal-2.75 lh (2.50 lh).

Normal area covered

The massive jump in planted area is mainly a reflection of robust open market prices, which has enthused farmers to go in for early sowing. In fact, nearly 90 per cent of the normal area of 260.50 lh has already been covered, against the normal pattern where sowing operations stretch right up to early January.

There has also been an increase in area under rabi maize, from 6.13 lh to 8.59 lh, rabi rice from 5.65 lh to 6.30 lh and barley from 6.22 lh to 6.78 lh, while declining from 47.16 lh to 46.75 lh for jowar (sorghum).

On the other hand, there has been a drop in acreages under rabi oilseeds, led by rapeseed-mustard.

The area under pulses is marginally higher because of chana (chickpea).

Farmers have diverted rapeseed-mustard area to chana in Madhya Pradesh and to wheat in Haryana.

More Stories on : Foodgrains | Cultivation | Wheat | Oilseeds & Edible Oil | Pulses

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