Pune: After monsoon picking up pace after a gap of almost a week, 72  per cent sowing has been done for the Kharif season till July 14.  Sowing of cotton seeds tops the total area under cultivation for Kharif season, followed by oil seeds and grains.

As per the information released by the agriculture department, the dams in the State have crossed the storage recorded on July 20 last year - 3 per cent more at 34.75 per cent.  According to press release released by Agriculture Department, the state has 139.64 lakh hectares of area under cultivation during Kharif season. Till July 14, sowing was done on 101.20 lakh hectares.

According to the press release, the state has an adequate supply of fertilisers. Out of annual requirement for 60 lakh tonne fertilisers, around 33 lakh tonne being used during Kharif season. For this season, 39 lakh tonne fertilisers have been made available as against the requirement of 43 lakh tonnne. Apart from this, the Central government has approved 0.50 lakh metric tonne urea.