NEW DELHI, 1 January 2020: As per preliminary reports received from the States, the total area sown under Rabi crops as, on 27 December 2019 stands at 57.18 million hectares, as compared to 53.63 million hectares for the corresponding period last year.
The progress in Rabi sowing has picked up significantly with the improvement of soil moisture in almost all Rabi growing states, the Indian agriculture ministry said in the statement.
Wheat has been sown/transplanted in 29.70 million hectares, rice in 13.90 lakh hectares, pulses in 14.01 million hectares, coarse cereals in 4.66 million hectares and area sown under oilseeds is 7.41 million hectares.
The area sown so far and that sown during last year this time is as follows:
(Area in lakh (MN) hectare)
| Crops | Area Sown in 2019-20 | Area Sown in 2018-19 |
| Wheat | 297.02 (29.70) | 270.75 (29.70) |
| Rice | 13.90 (1.39) | 11.93 (1.19) |
| Pulses | 140.13 (14.01) | 136.83 (13.68) |
| Coarse cereals | 46.66 (4.66) | 42.12 (4.21) |
| Oilseeds | 74.12 (7.41) | 74.72 (7.47) |
| Total Crops | 571.84 (57.18) | 536.35 (53.63) |