The cultivation of kharif crops is lower by 44.91 per cent so far compared to the corresponding period last year owing to delayed and deficient southwest monsoon.
The latest official figures released on Friday show that the total kharif sowing is lower by 281.84 lakh hectares at 345.60 lakh hectares planted so far.
The sowing of paddy is lower by 17.38 per cent compared to last year, pulses is lower by 60.19 per cent, coarse cereals by 62.04 per cent and total oilseeds plantation is lesser by a whopping 72.12 per cent over last year.
The sowing of cotton, which is hit by delayed monsoon in parts of Gujarat and Maharashtra is lower by 44.30 per cent than last year in the corresponding period.
Sources said rainfall activity in parts of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan in the last few days would have improved sowing which will be reflected in the statistics released next week.
Top scientists of the Indian Agriculture Research Institute told The Hindu that kharif production will be lower by at least 10 per cent compared to last year due to delayed, weak and unequally distributed monsoon.
