Sowing of rabi crops such as wheat, pulses, oilseeds and coarse cereals have commenced at a fast pace, with the total area under the crops touching 7.57 million hectare (Mha), or 12% of the normal sown area for the full season, according to data from the agriculture ministry released on Monday.

The sown area of winter crops is up15% on year.

While the sowing windows is still in the middle of January, the higher sowing indicated availability of adequate soil moisture due above normal monsoon this season.

Wheat, the main rabi crop, has been sown in 0.37 Mha, an increase of 46% over last year. Yet these are early days as sowing is expected to get a boost in coming four weeks especially in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh with normal sown area of 31.23 Mha.

The area cove

See Full Page