New Delhi: India’s rice sowing area touched 411.52 lakh hectares as of September 22 while it was 400.72 lakh hectares on the same date last year, the Ministry of Agriculture said on Friday.

Meanwhile, the area under pulses shrank to 122.57 in 2023 compared to 128.49 lakh hectares in 2022.

The Shri Anna cum Coarse cereals sowing area stood at 186.07 lakh hectares this year till September 22, while it was 183.73 lakh hectares last year.

Oilseed sowing also reduced to 192.91 lakh hectares whereas it was to 196 lakh hectares in the previous year.

The sowing area under sugarcane increased to 59.91 lakh hectares this year. It was 55.66 lakh hectares in the past year.

The area under Jute & Mesta stood at 6.59 lakh hectares, falling marginally compared to 6.98 lakh hectare last year.

The sowing area under cotton reduced to 123.42 lakh hectares, against 127.57 lakh hectares last year till September 22.