India's Wheat Harvest Poised for Record-Breaking Yield Amid Favourable Weather

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{ "title": "India's Wheat Harvest Poised for Record-Breaking Yield Amid Favourable Weather", "article": "India's agriculture sector is looking up as wheat sowing has remained robust, with farmers covering 33.4 million hectares, a 7% increase from the five-year average. This is according to data released by the agriculture ministry on Monday, which also shows that total rabi crop area has expanded by 2.3% to 65.2 million hectares. However, the total area sown is slightly lower than last year's 65.9 million hectares. The winter-sown season, which accounts for nearly half of India's annual food supply, is nearing its harvesting stage. A strong harvest is expected to keep inflation in check and boost rural demand. "Wheat sowing has remained strong and may set a new record," said an official, who wished to remain anonymous. While the wheat crop looks promising, the area under total winter pulses has decreased by 3% to 13.7 million hectares compared to the five-year average. However, this is marginally higher than last year's 13.4 million hectares. Pulses, a key source of protein for Indians, are imported to meet domestic demand. The government's mission to achieve self-sufficiency in pulses faces a significant challenge, as the area under pulses needs to increase substantially to meet the target. In contrast, the area sown under oilseeds has expanded by 11% to 9.6 million hectares, driven by favourable weather conditions. This increase is expected to reduce India's reliance on imported edible oil. As the country looks to achieve self-sufficiency in pulses and reduce oil imports, the agriculture sector's performance will be closely watched. "