Rice sowing down by 15% in AP, jumps over 2-fold in Telangana

Total area sown under rice in Andhra Pradesh fell by 15 per cent to 3.20 lakh hectares so far in the ongoing 2016-17 rabi season, while the acreage in neighbouring Telangana saw an over two-fold jump.

According to data released by the Union Agriculture Ministry, rice acreage in Telangana increased more than two-fold to 80,000 hectares so far this rabi season from 36,000 hectares in the year-ago period.

Sowing of rabi crops begins in October-November and harvesting starts April.

As per the latest data, rice in Andhra Pradesh was sown in 3.20 lakh hectares till last week during the ongoing rabi season, as against 3.77 lakh hectares in the year-ago.

Among other crops, area sown to pulses fell to 7.64 lakh hectares from 9.36 lakh hectares in Aandra Pradesh, while acreage saw a slight increase in Telangana from 1.35 lakh hectares to 1.38 lakh hectares in the said period.

In case of coarse cereals too, area in Andhra Pradesh fell to 1.69 lakh hectares from 2.19 lakh hectares. Whereas in Telangana, there was an increase of 38 per cent in area to 1.34 lakh hectares from 97,000 hectares.

Similarly, oilseeds area was lower at 68,000 hectares in Andhra Pradesh, while it had improved in the neighbouring state by 37 per cent to 1.54 lakh hectares till last week of this rabi season.

In total, rabi crops in Andhra Pradesh was sown in 13.38 lakh hectares till last week of this rabi season, down from 16.42 lakh hectares in the year-ago period.

Whereas in Telengana, area sown to all rabi crops stood at 5.1 lakh hectares as against 3.87 lakh hectares in the said period.