Kharif Sowing Area Rises by 27 Lakh Hectares to 1,105 Lakh Hectares; Cotton Declines

The total area sown under Kharif crops in the current season has increased by about 26.93 lakh hectares, reaching 1,105.42 lakh hectares as of September 5, 2025, according to data released by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare. The acreage is also higher than the five-year average of around 1,096.65 lakh hectares, indicating a healthy progress of the season.

Rice continues to dominate with 438.28 lakh hectares under cultivation, nearly 19.63 lakh hectares more than last year. Coarse cereals have also expanded significantly, with maize driving most of the growth. Farmers have planted maize on 94.62 lakh hectares, up by 10.32 lakh hectares, which has pushed the overall coarse cereals coverage to 191.71 lakh hectares.

Pulses have shown a modest increase, rising to 116.40 lakh hectares from last year’s 114.46 lakh hectares. Within this category, tur has slightly declined to 45.19 lakh hectares, while urad has expanded to 23.35 lakh hectares and moong to 34.22 lakh hectares. Pulses remain a vital source of protein for Indian households, and even small changes in acreage could influence market prices in the months ahead.

Oilseeds, however, have emerged as a weak spot. The total area has slipped to 186.98 lakh hectares, down 5.23 lakh hectares compared to last year. Soybean, the dominant crop in this category, accounts for most of the decline, with a reduction of 5.72 lakh hectares.

Cotton acreage has also dropped to 109.17 lakh hectares, while jute and mesta have continued their downward trend, now at 5.56 lakh hectares. On a positive note, sugarcane has expanded to 57.31 lakh hectares, an increase of 1.64 lakh hectares, ensuring steady supply for both sugar and ethanol production.