Wheat acreage has increased by 25 percent so far in the ongoing rabi season at 255.76 lakh hectares mainly on higher sowing area in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, the government data showed. The area under coverage for wheat, which is the major crop in rabi (winter-sown) season, stood at 203.91 lakh hectares in the same period last year.

Sowing of rabi crops starts from October. Higher area has been reported from Uttar Pradesh (20.09 lakh hectares), Madhya Pradesh (13.48 lakh hectares), Rajasthan (5.32 lakh hectares), Gujarat (2.61 lakh hectares), Maharashtra (2.43 lakh hectares), Bihar (2.24 lakh hectares), Punjab (1.32 lakh hectares) and Haryana (1.28 lakh hectares).

Increase in wheat sowing area augurs well for the country as the domestic production had fallen to 106.84 million tonnes in the 2021-22 crop year (July-June) from 106.84 million tonnes in the previous year.

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In May this year, the government banned exports of wheat to boost domestic supplies and control prices. Wheat procurement by state-owned FCI fell to 187.92 lakh tonnes in 2022-23 marketing year from 434.44 lakh tonnes due to fall in domestic output and aggressive purchase by private parties.

According to data as on December 9, paddy acreage has increased to 11.86 lakh hectares so far from 10.42 lakh hectares.

Pulses have been sown in 127.07 lakh hectares so far as against 123.77 lakh hectare, with area under gram rising to 89.42 lakh hectares from 87.28 lakh hectares.

Area under coverage for coarse cereals has risen to 36.39 lakh hectares from 32.05 lakh hectares.

In non-foodgrain category, area under coverage for oilseeds has increased to 95.19 lakh hectares from 87.65 lakh hectares. Mustard, the main oilseeds crop in rabi season, rose to 87.95 lakh hectares from 80.78 lakh hectares.

India imports about 60 percent of its edible oils requirement. Therefore, the increase in the mustard seeds acreage will boost domestic output of mustard oil.

Total sowing area under rabi crops has increased to 526.27 lakh hecatres so far from 457.80 lakh hectares in the corresponding period of the last year.

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(Edited by : Anushka Sharma)