India’s rabi sowing has started with the total area under key crops of the season rising to 3.86 million ha till last week from about 3.10 million ha around the same time last year. Sowing of rabi crops is higher this year because late rain over different parts of the country has boosted soil moisture level that supported planting. India had produced 137.2 million metric tonne foodgrain in the rabi season of 2016-17 (Jul-Jun). The total area under rabi pulses was around 1.1 million ha and that under oilseeds was 900,000 ha.