A shortfall in planting of wheat, pulses and coarse cereals pulled down cumulative rabi planting via almost 29 lakh hectares this week, compared to the corresponding duration last 12 months, in step with the sowing records launched by the Agriculture Ministry.

The general planted place till the give up of the week remained at 581.Five lakh hectares, 4.75% decrease than the 610.5 lakh hectares within the same duration all through the preceding rabi season.

While the place beneath pulses and coarse cereals has been always decrease as compared to ultimate 12 months, the surprise of the week changed into the surprising dip in wheat sowing, which maintained a wonderful fashion for the past few weeks. The location under wheat cultivation dropped to 294 lakh hectares, which was 2.14% lower than the 300.51 lakh hectares in the identical week ultimate yr.

Wheat cultivation is down in Maharashtra, Gujarat and West Bengal other than Rajasthan. The growth in wheat sowing in Madhya Pradesh is insignificant to pull up the numbers.

Rice cultivation, too, is 21% lower at sixteen.57 lakh hectares compared to the previous rabi season.

Pulses sowing, alternatively, is five.Seventy three% decrease attributable to a shortfall in gram cultivation, that’s down by means of 10.Sixty seven lakh hectares as compared to the corresponding duration ultimate yr.

A almost 22% drop in jowar sowing has resulted in the coarse cereals place coming down by means of 16% to almost forty five lakh hectares.

The place below oilseeds became 78 lakh hectares, close to what become sown at some stage in the same duration closing year. Mustard/rapeseed, the foremost oilseeds crop for the duration of the rabi season, but, was up 2.Five% to 68 lakh hectares, while there was a large shortfall within the cultivation of other oilseeds varieties this 12 months.

Meanwhile, the cumulative water garage in ninety one reservoirs, monitored by the Central Water Commission, remained at 162 billion cubic metres till Thursday, a lot the same as a yr in the past.