New Delhi, Sept. 14 -- Kharif sowing has nearly caught up with last year, although acreage under several key crops remains lower, agriculture ministry data showed.

Farmers had planted 109.6 million hectares as of 11 September, about 1.6 million hectares below the area sown during the year-ago period. The acreage is also close to the ministry's normal benchmark of 110.4 million hectares.

The headline figure masks sharper declines in rice, maize, oilseeds, sugarcane and cotton, which are critical to India's food, edible oil and fibre supplies. Rice acreage stood at 42.6 million hectares, down 1.7 million hectares from a year ago.

Pulses offered some support, with acreage rising 167,000 hectares to 11.8 million hectares, led by gains in U...