Maharashtra had till August 5 received only 77.1 per cent of its normal rainfall, which has led to kharif sowing taking place on 1.31 crore hectare, which is 94 per cent of the 1.39 crore hectares usually brought under crops in the kharif season. The sowing season had started early in the backdrop of considerable rains in June when Maharashtra received 98.1 per cent of its total rainfall for the month. Till August 1, a total of 1.31 crore hectares, which is 94 per cent of the total area, saw sowing. Soyabean was the second highest with 37.04 lakh hectares, which is 16 per cent over the 31.92 lakh hectares average land on which it used to be grown. This year, it was sown on 12.39 lakh hectare as against 14.58 lakh hectares last year.

Source: Indian Express August 05, 2017 23:37 UTC