Paddy, pulses sowing area increases by 6% to 36.905 mn hectare: Govt

Paddy acreage has increased by six per cent to 369.05 lakh hectare so far in the ongoing 2024-25 kharif (summer) season, the agriculture ministry said on Tuesday.

In the year-ago period, the area under paddy was 349.49 lakh hectare.

Sowing of paddy, the main kharif crop, begins with the onset of southwest monsoon in June, and harvesting takes place from September.

Additionally, the area sown to pulses increased to 120.18 lakh hectare till August 20 of the ongoing season, from 113.69 lakh hectare in the same period last year, the ministry said in a statement.

There was a rise in coverage of 'arhar' to 45.78 lakh hectare from 40.74 lakh hectare. Area sown to 'urad' was 28.33 lakh hectare against 29.52 lakh hectare.

The area under coarse cereals and 'Shree Anna' (millets) increased to 181.11 lakh hectare from 176 lakh hectare in the year-ago period.

Among coarse cereals, the area under maize rose to 87.23 lakh hectare from 81.25 lakh hectare.

Area sown to oilseeds rose marginally t