Programme to sow Rabi crops in 104 lakh hectares

Bhopal: Rabi crops will be sown in 104 lakh hectares in the state this year. Last year, Rabi crops were sown in 99 lakh 52 thousand hectares. This year, Rabi crops will be sown in additional 4 lakh 28 thousand hectares in the wake of copious rainfall. Farmers are being advised to sow crops of pulses and oilseeds in view of moisture still present in soil.
The average Rabi sowing area in the state is 84 lakh 77 thousand hectares. This is expected to witness increase of 20 percent this year. Among major Rabi crops, wheat was sown in 49 lakh hectares last year. This year, the wheat sowing area is expected to surpass this figure. Special efforts will be made by the department to increase gram sowing area and production. A target has been set to sow gram in 32 lakh 5 thousand hectares in the Rabi season this year. It will be 2 lakh 6 thousand hectares more than the last year’s gram sowing area of 30 lakh 44 thousand hectares. Masoor sown area is 30 thousand more that last year’s 6 lakh 20 thousand hectares. This year, mustard is expected to be sown in 8 lakh 50 thousand hectares, which is about 65 thousand hectares more than the last year.
According to agricultural experts, there are immense possibilities of good yield during Rabi season this year. The Farmers’ Welfare & Agriculture Development Department has made adequate arrangements for all the farm inputs including fertiliser, seeds, seed treatment medicines, agricultural implements etc. Farmers can obtain agricultural inputs from cooperative institutions and concerning agriculture offices.