New Delhi: Sowing area under wheat has risen by 11.5 per cent to 225.63 lakh hectares while that of pulses is up 10 per cent to 121.74 lakh hectares so far in the current Rabi (winter-sown) season on the back of good monsoon and higher support price.

However, the acreage of paddy and coarse cereals is lower than last year.

“As per preliminary reports received from the states, total area sown under Rabi crops as on December 9, 2016 stands at 472.43 lakh hectares as compared to 438.90 lakh hectares this time in 2015,” an official statement said. Wheat has been sown/transplanted in 225.63 lakh hectares so far this rabi season from 202.28 lakh hectares in the same period last year. Pulses acreage has grown to 121.74 lakh hectares from 110.80 lakh hectares. Oilseeds sowing area has risen to 72.23 lakh hectares from 65.71 lakh hectares during the period under review. Paddy acreage has fallen however to 8 lakh hectares so far this rabi season from 10.98 lakh hectares in the same period last year. “State of Tamil Nadu reported that some discrepancy in reporting sowing area of Rabi rice last week due to combining the data of Kharif rice last week. That is why in current data sowing of Rabi Rice decreased from last week,” the statement said. Coarse cereals sowing area, too, dropped to 44.83 lakh hectares from 49.13 lakh hectares. Sowing area of wheat and pulses is up so far in Rabi season despite demonetisation move as the government has allowed use of Rs 500 note for purchase of seeds. Farmers can purchase seeds from the centres, units or outlets belonging to the central or state governments, public sector undertakings, national or state seeds corporations, central or state agricultural universities and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), on production of proof of identity. — PTI