MUMBAI, Dec 28 (Reuters) - India's rabi, or winter wheat plantings recovered in the fortnight ending Dec. 28, narrowing the trailing gap with last year's plantings.

Wheat acreage was down 5.3 percent to 24.93 million hectares, but, up from a 12 percent decline on Dec 14, federal farm ministry data showed on Friday.

India is a major importer of wheat and lower acreage may lower output boosting prices and triggering imports, analysts said. Dry weather in certain growing areas slowed wheat sowing earlier.

India expects to produce 75.5 million tonnes of wheat in 2008, edging up from 74.9 million tonnes in 2007.[DEL340885]

A farm ministry statement said on Dec 18 said area under wheat would be 27.5 million hectares, down from 28 million hectares in 2007.

Coarse cereals were sown in 6.46 million hectares, up from 6.29 million hectares same time in 2006, and reversing the trailing trend for the first time in the winter season,

Winter oilseeds were sown in 8.19 million hectares, down from 9.04 million hectares. Mustard or rapeseed acreage was down to 5.96 million hectares from 6.54 million hectares.

Winter pulses covered 12.13 million hectares, down from 12.43 million hectares last year. Gram covered 7.51 million hectares down from 7.65 million hectares.

Winter rice sowing has just started in some southern states. So far, 0.4 million hectares has come under rice plantation, up from 0.26 million hectares last year.

(Reporting by Sourav Mishra; Editing by Prem Udayabhanu)

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Keywords: INDIA SOWING/WINTER