Wheat sowing has declined by 4.4 per cent in the winter season so far to around 292 lakh hectares, while area under pulses is down by 2.74 per cent. Sowing of wheat and other rabi crops has been affected due to less soil moisture following two consecutive drought years. <br/><br/>Agriculture Ministry in a release said, as per preliminary reports received from the states, the total area sown under Rabi crops as on yesterday, stands at 591 lakh hectares. It said, total area sown under Rabi crops stood at 609.31 lakh hectares in the same period of the previous year.However, area under coverage for coarse cereals have increased to 60 lakh hectares from 56 lakh hectares.<br/><br/>As per the data, wheat has been sown in 292.52 lakh hectare in this Rabi season against 305.94 lakh hectare in the year-ago period. Area under coverage for rice is down to 22.41 lakh hectares from 24.08 lakh hectares. Pulses acreage has declined to 139 lakh hectare so far from 143 lakh hectares.