about 4.6 per cent lower than 537.12 lh covered in the same period in 2017-19. Though the shortfall in planting is reported across the crops, the highest in percentage was in rice. While the rice sowing is down by 54 per cent in Andhra Pradesh, the shortfall reported from Tamil Nadu is 27 per cent. Wheat, which accounts for nearly half the rabi cropping area, is down by 1.5 per cent. Wheat sowing is down mainly because of drop in acreage in key growing States of Bihar, Gujarat and Rajasthan. But, a higher acreage reported from Madhya Pradesh bridged the shortfall to a great extent. As compared to 41 lh area planted last year, the sowing has reportedly covered 48 lh in Madhya Pradesh so far. Pulses cultivation too is languishing as compared to last year, mainly because both Karnataka and Maharashtra reported decrease in planting. Madhya Pradesh, on the other hand, reported higher acreage under pulses so far this year.