Wheat sowing in the state has been delayed this year. The crop has been sown on 18.45 lakh hectares against a target of 25.23 lakh hectares. The delay could affect the overall crop yield. The delay was caused due to increase in areas under cotton and rice cultivation. Stern measures taken by the government against stubble burning also delayed wheat sowing, which is normally done in October-November in Haryana and Punjab, though it is not uncommon to sow the crop in December too.