Late rains lift sowing, but water uncertainty clouds Telangana’s Kharif prospectsTelangana's kharif cropped area has reached 96.74 lakh acres, or 73 per cent of the normal acreage, following improved monsoon activity. The cropped area surged from 68.43 lakh acres, or 51.69 per cent of the season’s normal area of 132.38 lakh acres as on July 22, to 96.74 lakh acres (73 per cent of the season’s normal area) by August 5. Pulses have also exceeded last year’s coverage, with 5.48 lakh acres sown against 5.1 lakh acres during the corresponding period last year. Major millets covered 5.3 lakh acres against a normal area of 6.52 lakh acres, while oilseeds stood at 3.74 lakh acres against a normal area of 4.47 lakh acres. Cultivation area surged from 68.43 lakh acres to 96.74 lakh acres in two weeks.