Paddy sowing up 19 pc so far, arhar & urad acreage rises sharply

In the 2024-25 kharif season, paddy increased by 19.35% to 59.99 lakh hectare. Pulses rose to 36.81 lakh hectare, notably arhar. Maize reached 41.09 lakh hectare, oilseeds 80.31 lakh hectare. Sugarcane and cotton increased; jute-mesta decreased. Coarse cereals, Shree Anna reduced. Harvesting begins in September. Early monsoon onset in June, IMD forecasts above-normal June-September rainfall.