More wheat, rice and pulses sown this rabi
January 1st, 2010 - 9:27 pm ICT by IANS
New Delhi, Jan 1 (IANS) There is good news on New Year’s day from the country’s agriculture sector.
The rabi (winter sowing) season shows signs of improvement in production of wheat, rice and pulses.
“Data received from states reveals that sowing of rabi crop is progressing well,” said an agriculture ministry statement here Friday.
The worst monsoon in nearly four decades and unexpected floods in some parts of the country had spoiled the country’s kharif season, pushing up food prices.
The acreage in the sowing of wheat, rice and pulses this rabi season is higher compared to last year, according to data released by the agriculture ministry.
As on Dec 31, 2009, wheat has been sown in 260.71 lakh hectares, compared to only 255.62 lakh hectares in 2008.
Rice has been sown in 4.55 lakh hectares, while in 2008, rice was sown in only 3.61 lakh hectares.
Pulses have been sown in 125.60 lakh hectares till Dec 31, while in 2008, it was sown in 120.84 lakh hectares.
However, the sowing of coarse cereals shows a dip. It has been sown in only 60.94 lakh hectares while in 2008, it was sown in 64.81 lakh hectares.
Last week, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said it was a major challenge for the government to check inflation in the short-to-medium term.
Opposition parties had stalled parliamentary proceedings over spiralling food prices, resulting in the adjournment of the Lok Sabha for a day during the winter session this month.
- Bumper kharif crop expected as crop-acreage increases - Oct 08, 2010
- Plans to meet pulses shortfall: Officials - Sep 26, 2011
- More water, but rice cultivation yet to pick up - Jun 18, 2010
- In Bihar, the woes are not of farmers alone - Sep 21, 2010
- Area under wheat, pulses cultivation rose, rice fell - Feb 15, 2010
- Acreage of paddy is lower than last year: government - Aug 10, 2009
- Bumper rabi crop will ease inflation: Minister - Feb 13, 2010
- 2009-10 foodgrain production to be 218.2 million tonnes - Jul 19, 2010
- No drought like situation, don't panic: Minister - Jun 23, 2010
- No rain or water causes distress to Jammu farmers - Apr 20, 2010
- Focus on mechanisation to deal with farm labour shortage - Oct 20, 2011
- Rice cultivation picking up - Jul 02, 2010
- Incessant rains damage mustard crop in Kashmir - May 23, 2010
- Cabinet decides to raise minimum support price for Rabi crop - Oct 20, 2010
- Rethink food security bill: Pawar - Oct 19, 2011
Tags: acreage, adjournment, agriculture ministry, agriculture sector, coarse cereals, finance minister, floods, food prices, kharif season, lakh, Lok Sabha, ministry statement, monsoon, New Delhi, opposition parties, parliamentary proceedings, pranab mukherjee, rabi season, winter session, winter sowing