Indian farmers have planted wheat on 28.65 million hectares (70.8 million acres) since Oct. 1, when the current sowing season began, up nearly 3% from a year ago, Reuters reported, citing the latest data from the farm ministry on Friday.

Farmers have also increased the area cultivating rapeseed, a key winter-sown oilseed, to 9 million hectares as of Dec. 16, up from last year's 8.3 million hectares, the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare said in a statement.