New Delhi [India], August 25 (ANI): Farmers in India have sown Kharif crops across 1,053.59 lakh hectares so far this year, as against 1,049.96 lakh hectares in the same period of last year, according to the latest data from the Agriculture Ministry.

On a yearly basis, the sowing is largely steady according to the data from the Ministry.

Also Read | Kerala Road Accident: Jeep Carrying 12 Persons Falls Into 30-Metre Deep Gorge Near Mananthavady in Wayanad, Nine Women Dead.

Commodity-wise, paddy sowing is at 384.05 lakh hectares, as against 367.83 lakh hectares same period last year. Notably, India in July amended the rice export norms by putting Non-Basmati white rice, a major export item, in the "prohibited" category to maintain ample domestic availability.

As the sowing is on, the government earlier this week said a quantity of 521.27 lakh tonne rice is being estimated for procurement during the forthcoming Kharif marketing season 2023-24 as against the previous year's estimates of 518 lakh tonne. Wherein 496 lakh tonne was actually procured during the 2022-23 season.

Also Read | Alien-Like Sea Creature With 20 Arms, Strawberry-Like Body Discovered by Researchers in Antarctic Ocean.

For pulses, comprising Arhar, Urad, Moong, and Kulthi, among others, the sowing is, however, lower year-on-year. Agriculture ministry data showed the total pulses sowing so far this Kharif is 117.44 lakh hectares, as against 128.07 lakh hectares last year.

Further, the sowing of oilseeds, which groundnut, soybean, sunflower, sesame, and others too were marginally lower at 188.58 lakh hectares, as against 190.38 lakh hectares.

Sugarcane farmers have so far sown crops across 56.06 lakh hectares, as against 55.59 lakh hectares last year, the farm ministry data showed.

India has three cropping seasons -- Summer, Kharif, and Rabi.

Crops that are sown during October and November and the produce harvested from January depending on maturity are Rabi. Crops sown during June-July and dependent on monsoon rains are harvested in October-November are kharif. Crops produced between Rabi and Kharif are Summer crops. (ANI)

(The above story is verified and authored by ANI staff, ANI is South Asia's leading multimedia news agency with over 100 bureaus in India, South Asia and across the globe. ANI brings the latest news on Politics and Current Affairs in India & around the World, Sports, Health, Fitness, Entertainment, & News. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)