New Delhi, June 21 (TIWN) As large parts of India remained monsoon deficit, Kharif 2022 witnessed lesser area under rice, pulses, and oilseeds while only sugarcane area is up compared to 2021 with a decline of 8.66 lakh Hectare in total area sown, government data said on Saturday.

A total of 99.63 lakh Ha area has been sown during the Kharif 2022 season compared to 108.29 lakh Ha in 2021, i.e. minus 8 per cent as on Saturday, June 18.  Rice is sown over 8.73 lakh Ha, compared to 12.52 lakh Ha in 2021, which is 3.80 lakh Ha less (minus 30.32 per cent). Pulses have been sown over 4.39 lakh Ha, compared to 4.74 lakh Ha in 2021, which is 0.35 lakh Ha less (minus 7.43 per cent), among them, Urad has witnessed the least sowing with 0.53 lakh Ha this year compared to 0.73 lakh Ha last year (minus 27.95 per cent).  Total coarse cereals has also witnessed decline with 6.81 lakh Ha compared to 9.74 lakh Ha in 2021, a decline of 2.98 lakh Ha (minus 30.07 per cent). Of them, Bajra has seen the least sowing with 0.45 lakh Ha compared to 2.85 lakh Ha in 2021 (minus 84.10 per cent).