Sowing of rabi crops, especially mustard begins

Sowing of rabi crops, especially oilseeds and pulses, has begun across the country and about 7.34 lakh hectare has been covered so far, according to the agriculture ministry data released on Friday.

Wheat is the main rabi (winter) crop but its sowing data has not yet been reported from states, it said.

Rabi crops are sown from October, immediately after the southwest monsoon is over and harvesting is done in April/May. The government has not yet announced minimum support price (MSP) of rabi crops for the 2022-23 crop year.

According to the data, mostly the rapeseed/mustard sowing is being undertaken right now and some area is also sown to groundnut seed, gram and rice.

Planting of rapeseed/mustard has been undertaken in 4.30 lakh hectare, mainly in Rajasthan so far in the current winter season as against 0.67 lakh hectare in the year-ago period.

Experts say recent rains have improved moisture level in oilseeds growing areas, facilitating sowing of mustard.

Gram has been sown in 1 lakh hectare and rice in 1.25 lakh hectare so far this seasoRAn. Planting of these two crops had not started this early during the same season last year and the acreage remained lower.