Kharif crop sowing area crosses 95 lakh hectare

The kharif crop sowing area has crossed 95 lakh hectare, as per reports received by the Agriculture Ministry from the States. As on June 20, rice has been sown/transplanted in 7.59 lakh ha, pulses in 2.60 lakh ha, coarse cereals in 12.29 lakh ha, and oilseeds in 1.23 lakh ha. Planting of sugarcane and cotton was still in progress, the Ministry said. So far, sugarcane had been planted in 43.92 lakh ha and cotton in 20 lakh ha.