Rabi area coverage has increased by 24.13 lakh ha over last year, Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said on Saturday.

Taking stock of the Rabi crops position with senior officials, Tomar expressed satisfaction that so far, area coverage reported under wheat is 152.88 lakh ha as compared to 138.35 lakh ha during the corresponding period last year, as major wheat growing states have reported increased area coverage as compared to the last year.

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For wheat, there is an increase in area coverage by 14.53 lakh ha over the last year and this has been the highest ever in the last four years.

As on 25 November, the total area sown under rabi crops reported was 358.59 lakh ha (which is 57 percent of the normal rabi area) as compared to 334.46 lakh ha during the corresponding period last year. Thus, the rabi area coverage has increased by 24.13 lakh ha over the last year.

Tomar hoped with favorable soil moisture conditions, better live water storage position and comfortable availability of fertilizers across the country, the rabi crops area coverage is expected to accelerate further in the coming days and a good rabi harvest can be expected.

The present live water storage in 143 important reservoirs across the country is 149.49 billion cubic meters (week ending 24 November) which is 106 percent of the corresponding period last year and 119 percent of the average storage of the last ten years of the corresponding period.

Soil moisture condition during 15-21 November is more than the average of the past seven years of the corresponding period in most of the districts. Availability of fertilizers against a requirement for the rabi season is also comfortable across the country.