Tribune News Service
New Delhi, May 22
The sowing area of summer crops has increased over the last year, the Agriculture Ministry said
While summer rice has been sown in 34.87 lakh hectares as compared to 25.29 lakh ha in corresponding period, last year, about 12.82 lakh ha has been covered under pulses in comparison to 9.67 lakh ha, last year.
The coverage under coarse cereals has also increased. About 10.28 lakh ha area has been covered as compared to 7.30 lakh ha in the corresponding period, last year. Likewise oil seeds, which have been sown in about 9.28 lakh ha area as compared to 7.34 lakh ha last year.
Procurement too has risen despite a lockdown to slow the spread of coronavirus. Around 337.48 lakh MT wheat arrived out of which 326.96 Lakh MT was purchased in the Rabi Marketing Season (RMS) 2020-21,
NAFED has procured 5.89 lakh MT Gram (Chana), 4.97 lakh MT Mustard and 4.99 lakh MT tur dal during the lockdown period.

