New Delhi, Total area sown to paddy has increased by 3.38 per cent to 283 lakh hectares so far in the current kharif season, but there is a lag in coverage in four states, according to the Agriculture Ministry data released on Friday.
The area under paddy, which is a main kharif crop, was lagging in four states of Odisha, Karnataka, Assam and Andhra Pradesh. The crop was sown in 273.73 lakh hectares in the year-ago period.
According to the Met Department, overall monsoon was 4 per cent higher from June 1 to August 2. In east and northeast India, there was a deficit of 24 per cent.PTI