India kharif planting for most crops higher than last year

MUMBAI (Reuters) - The area coverage of kharif crops in India for most crops including rice, cotton, and oilseeds rose in the week ended September 28, compared to same period last year, the government said on Friday.

Rice transplantation had covered 36.59 million hectares, compared with 36.42 million hectares at the same time last year, data showed.

Transplanting is at ending stage in almost all states except Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Orissa and Tamil Nadu where transplanting is at peak.

Area under cotton rose to 9.09 million hectares, including 5.33 million hectares under BT cotton, compared with a total of 8.75 million hectares last year.

The total coverage under oilseeds was 17.60 million hectares against 16.36 million hectares last year.

The area under soybean rose 8 percent while the area under groundnut rose 14 percent.

Pulses covered an area of 12.48 million hectares compared with 11.24 million hectares last year.

Coarse cereals covered a total area of 21.61 million hectares compared with 22.10 million hectares in the same period last year. The sowing of various coarse cereals has ended in almost all states, the release said.