India wheat sowing down 37% so far
Wheat planting remained lower by 37% at 9.69 lakh hectare till last week of the ongoing rabi (winter) season of the 2019-20 crop year. Farmers have planted wheat in an area of 9.69 lakh hectare till last week of this season, compared with 15.35 lakh hectare a year ago. Wheat acreage lagging at 74,000 hectare in Madhya Pradesh till last week of this season, when compared with 6 lakh hectares in the year-ago period. In Punjab, farmers planted wheat in 4.20 lakh hectare as against 4.68 lakh hectare a year ago, while that in Haryana in 1.16 lakh hectare as against 1.19 lakh hectare. Wheat planting in Uttar Pradesh is covered in more area at 1.73 lakh hectare till last week of this season as against 94,000 hectare a year ago. The lower wheat acreage is due to late harvesting of 2019 kharif crops that has delayed sowing in some states, especially Madhya Pradesh. The curbs on stubble burning has also delayed land preparation.