India's Summer Pulse Area Continues Rise

NEW DELHI - Jul 17/06 - SNS -- Seeding of summer monsoon or kharif season pulses remains ahead of last year, according to the country's agriculture department.

So far this year, 4.7 million hectares of pulses have been sown, compared to 3.2 million hectares at this time last year. Local traders say strong domestic markets for the commodity group have inspired growers to expand plantings.

However, despite the uneven advance of this year's monsoon and below normal rainfall levels, seedings of all crops is ahead of last year. Rainfall levels between June 1 and July 12 are deemed 10% below normal, and 17% below normal for the week ending July 12. July is considered the most important month for seedings kharif season crops.

Rice seedings now sit at 10.2 million hectares sown so far this season, compared to 8.2 million hectares at this time last year. Oilseed area has so far expanded from 8.7 to 9 million hectares, with soybean area rising from 4.4 to 5.2 million hectares and groundnuts slipping from 2.8 to 2.4 million hectares.