Area under rice in Telangana, one of the key producers in the country, increased on year due to a sharp rise in minimum support price to 1,750 rupees per 100 kg from 1,550 rupees. Rice acreage in the state in 2018-19 (Jul-Jun) was at 700,849 ha, up nearly 42% on year. Area under moong, however, dropped to 70,546 ha, down 18.8% on year, despite a rise in support price, but soybean acreage was 5.6% higher at 170,405 ha. However, area under cotton declined 3.9% on year to 1.7 mln ha due to the pink bollworm attack that created havoc in north India two years ago, and in Maharashtra and Telangana in the current cotton year that ends September. Acreage of turmeric increased to 46,217 ha, up 4.1% on year. Total sowing in Telangana in the ongoing kharif season touched 3.6 mln ha, again 3.4 mln ha a year ago.