New Delhi: The Union Agriculture Ministry on Friday said the preliminary reports received from the states indicated the total area sown under Rabi crops as on January 20 stood at 628.34 lakh hectares as compared to 592.36 lakh hectare at this time in 2016.

"Wheat has been sown/transplanted in 313.14 lakh hectares, rice in 19.36 lakh hectares, pulses in 157.68 lakh hectares, coarse cereals in 56.25 lakh hectares and area sown under oilseeds is 81.91 lakh hectares," said an official release.-IANS