Sowing under Rabi crops rise by 6%, rice drops

Total area sown under Rabi crops till December 23, 2016 stood at 554.91 lakh hectares, a rise of 6.02% compared to 523.40 lakh hectare a year ago, as per Ministry of Agriculture. 

Sowing of wheat grew by 7.42% at 278.62 lakh hectares, while pulses (138.25 lakh hectare) and oilseeds (78.08 lakh hectares) recorded growth of  9.95% and 11.35% respectively. 

Rice and coarse cereals declined by 26.69% and  7.79% respectively.