Even after two months of monsoon season, the rainfall in 12 states of the country has been below normal forming drought-like conditions in many states. Due to this, the area sown was 788.52 Lakh Hectare; 6.5% less compared to last year. Last year till this time the sowing had been done in 844.20 lakh hectare. The sowing of pulses has been recorded along with the major Kharif crop of paddy. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, sowing of pulses in the current Kharif has been reduced to 105.14 lakh hectares, which is 7.12 per cent less than the same period last year. At the same time, transplantation of Kharif's major crop paddy has been 223.53 lakh hectares so far this year as opposed 255.48 lakh hectare last year. Coarse cereals are sown in only 136.17 lakh hectares so far in the current Kharif, compared to last year's 145.16 lakh hectare. Source - Agrowon, August 5, 2019