Sowing of crops in the ongoing rabi season has increased by 3.30 percent to 652.33 lakh hectares, compared to 631.45 lakh hectares during the same period last year. Along with wheat, acreage under pulses and oilseeds has also recorded an increase. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, sowing of wheat the major rabi crop had risen to 334.17 lakh hectares as of January 16, compared to 328.04 lakh hectares at the same time last year. Acreage under rabi pulses has increased to 137 lakh hectares, higher than 133.18 lakh hectares in the corresponding period of the previous year. Among pulses, gram (chickpea) sowing has risen to 95.88 lakh hectares, compared to 91.22 lakh hectares last year. Lentil sowing has increased to 18.12 lakh hectares, while pea sowing stands at 7.92 lakh hectares. In the same period last year, lentils and peas were sown over 17.66 lakh hectares and 8.27 lakh hectares, respectively. However, urad sowing has declined to 4.58 lakh hectares, down from 4.88 lakh hectares a year ago. Sowing of oilseeds during the current rabi season has increased to 96.86 lakh hectares, compared to 93.33 lakh hectares last year. Mustard sowing has risen to 89.36 lakh hectares, up from 86.57 lakh hectares in the previous year. Groundnut acreage has increased marginally to 3.52 lakh hectares, compared to 3.37 lakh hectares last year. Linseed sowing has also gone up to 1.99 lakh hectares, from 1.76 lakh hectares in the same period last year. Sowing of coarse cereals has increased to 58.72 lakh hectares, compared to 55.93 lakh hectares last year. Among these, jowar has been sown over 22.54 lakh hectares, maize over 25.05 lakh hectares, and barley over 7.37 lakh hectares, higher than 6.08 lakh hectares recorded last year. Meanwhile, paddy transplantation during the current rabi season has increased to 25.58 lakh hectares, compared to about 20.98 lakh hectares in the corresponding period last year.