Paddy sowing continues to lag, acreage down by 8.25%, shows govt data

The area under paddy in the week ended August 18 was almost 8.25 per cent less than in the equivalent period last year.

This was an improvement over the almost 15 per cent shortfall in the previous week, the latest data from the agriculture ministry showed.

The deficit in paddy acreage has narrowed in UP, Bihar, and West Bengal between the two weeks in consideration owing to revival in rain, the data reflected.

Nonetheless, compared to last year, paddy acreage is down by almost 340,000 hectares in Bihar, 1.14 million hectares in Jharkhand, 630,000 hectares in West Bengal, and 270,000 hectares in Uttar