The area covered by paddy and pulses was 8.20 lakh hectare and 4.32 lakh hectare, respectively, in 2014.
The data reveals that the sowing area of oilseeds has also improved, but the sowing of cash crops such as sugarcane, cotton and jute is lagging this season. The area covered by oilseeds has increased to 2.79 lakh hectare this season against 2.22 lakh hectare a year ago.
The sowing of <g data-gr-id="32">kharif</g> crops starts with the onset of <g data-gr-id="34">south-west</g> monsoon from June. So far, rain is 11 <g data-gr-id="33">per cent</g> higher than the average. The overall monsoon in June is expected to be normal, but it may weaken next month, as per the Met department.
According to experts, the sowing of pulses and other <g data-gr-id="23">kharif</g> crops will gather pace as monsoon
progresses. The government has also announced higher support price for lentils to boost the domestic production.
However, <g data-gr-id="27">area</g> coverage of coarse cereals is substantially lower at 7.19 lakh hectare compared with 12.42 lakh hectare a year ago. Among cash crops, area sown to sugarcane is down at 41.58 lakh hectare against 43.92 lakh hectare a year ago.
Similarly, cotton area has marginally dipped to 19.66 lakh hectare this season compared with 20 lakh hectare the previous year, while jute and <g data-gr-id="31">mesta</g> have been planted in 7.55 lakh hectare against 7.81 lakh hectare the previous year.
The total area coverage of all <g data-gr-id="25">kharif</g> crops is lower at 91.61 lakh hectare this season compared with 98.88 lakh hectare at the same period in 2014.