Sowing of Kharif crops so far in 2023 has been somewhat higher in India, according to the Agriculture Ministry

Farmers in India have sown kharif crops across 733.42 lakh hectares so far this year, as against 724.99 lakh hectares in the same period of last year, according to data from the Agriculture ministry. On a yearly basis, the sowing is 1.16 per cent higher.

Commodity-wise, rice sowing is at 180.20 lakh hectare, as against 175.47 lakh hectare same period last year.

For pulses, comprising arhar, urad, ,moong, and kulthi, among others, the sowing is, however, lower year-on-year. Agriculture ministry data showed the total pulses sowing so far this kharif is 85.85 lakh hectares, as against 95.22 lakh hectares last year.

Further, sowing of oilseeds, which groundnut, soybean, sunflower, sesame, and others, was higher at 160.41 lakh hectares, as against 155.29 lakh hectares. Sugarcane farmers have so far sown crops across 56.00 lakh hectares, as against 53.34 lakh hectares last year.

India has three cropping seasons -- summer, kharif, and rabi.Crops that are sown during October and November and the produce harvested from January-March depending on maturity is Rabi. Crops sown during June-July and harvested in October November are kharif. Crops produced between rabi and kharif are summer crops.

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