NEW DELHI: Crop planting has increased 9 % over the previous year despite the meteorological department’s forecast of below average monsoon rain. The season’s rain deficit touched 5% on Friday with July deficit at 17%. The total sown area as on 31stJuly, according to the agriculture ministry, was at 764.28 lakh hectare, as compared to 703.43 lakh hectare at this time last year. Barring cotton, the area under kharif crops is largely up on year. Area under pulses is up 21% on year while oilseeds’ acreage is up nearly 10% on year. Rainfall in the past one week has helped increase area under kharif crops, according to official data. Planting of oilseeds, pulses and coarse cereals has risen sharply and is expected to help reduce demand for imported cooking oil. Rice has been sown/transplanted in 227.81 lakh hectare, pulses in 82.44 lakh ha, coarse cereals in 148.49 lakh ha, oilseeds in 148.52 lakh ha and cotton in 101.91 lakh ha.