Pulses sowing up by 13% to 38.91 lakh hectares

New Delhi: Buoyed by higher support price, farmers have planted pulses in more area at 38.91 lakh hectares in this rabi season so far against 34.42 lakh hectares area in the year-ago period.

"As per preliminary reports received from the fields, sowing of Rabi crops has started in various parts of the country. The total area sown under Rabi crops as on November 13, 2015, is 123.28 lakh hectares," Agriculture Ministry said in a statement.

Total area sown under rabi crops was at 159.30 lakh hectares at the same time last year.

Unlike pulses, area under wheat has sharply declined to 18.65 lakh hectares from 42.88 lakh hectares. Similarly area under oilseeds has dipped to 31.02 lakh hectares from 53.90 lakh hectares.

Area under rice has also come down to 0.17 lakh hectares from 0.36 lakh hectares in the year-ago period.

While area under coarse cereals has increased to 34.53 lakh hectares as of now from 27.74 lakh hectares in the year-ago period.