International Business'Lower sowing in Punjab, Haryana not to affect wheat production'
The Centre today said wheat sowing has fallen a bit in the key growing states of Punjab and Haryana but increased in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh and hoped the overall crop output would not be affected.
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"Wheat sowing is slightly bad in Punjab and Haryana but progressing well in other states like Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh," Minister of State for Agriculture K V Thomas said on the sidelines of a CII event on agri-marketing.
The total area under the crop, sown from October to December, is better as of now compared to last year, he said. "We assume the overall situation of winter-sown crops - wheat, rice, mustard seed is good," Thomas said.
Official data show the area under wheat cultivation increased to 217.28 lakh hectares since October 1 to December 10, from 216 lakh hectares in the same period last year.
Agriculture and Food Minister Sharad Pawar yesterday said the country"s wheat production is expected to surpass last year"s all-time high production of 80.58 million tonnes. "Wheat sowing has been progressing well. The acreage and the crop condition indicate that production will be more than last year," Pawar said.