By NewsGram Staff-Writer

New Delhi: In spite of a total rainfall deficit of 12% as on Friday, farmers have managed to plant Kharif crops on 92% of the total arable area.

The agriculture ministry said that as on Friday, the total area sown this year is 96.78 million hectares as against 95.69 million hectares in the previous year i.e. an increase by 1%, according to a report in Economic Times.

On one hand, the area under Rice cultivation stood at 34.59 million hectares which is more or less same as previous year. On the other hand, the area under cultivation of pulses, coarse cereals, sugarcane, and oil seeds increased by 12%, 3%, 4%, and 1%, respectively. They were cultivated in 10.55 million hectares, 17.25 million hectares, 4.88 million hectares, and 17.46 million hectares, respectively.

Meanwhile, the water levels in the major reservoirs decreased further from 92% of the last 10-year average last week to 88%, according to Central Water Commission as quoted in ET.