December 7, 2009

India's winter-sown wheat area at 16.74 million hectares

India's winter-sown wheat area as of Dec. 3 rose to 16.74 million hectares from 16.24 million hectares a year earlier, government data showed Friday (December 4).

Sowing of wheat usually starts in November, and the crop is harvested from March onwards.

India, the world's second-largest wheat producer, is aiming to increase its 2009-10 wheat harvest by 2 million tonnes to offset a drop in output of summer-sown foodgrains due to a drought and floods.

The country harvested a bumper 80.58 million tonnes of wheat in the year ending March 31, 2009.