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Informist, Friday, Mar. 20, 2026

MUMBAI – Farmers in Telangana have sown rabi crops across 8.12 million acres (1 acre = 0.4 hectares) as of Wednesday, up over 9% from 7.42 million acres covered in the corresponding period last year, according to a report released by the state agriculture department. The acreage so far has surpassed the state's normal rabi area of 6.87 million acres.

The acreage under paddy rose to 5.97 million acres from 5.64 million acres a year ago, the report showed. The area sown under maize was up at 1.21 million acres from 823,939 acres last year, and that of jowar also rose to 351,128 acres from 287,067 acres a year ago.

Chana acreage so far slipped to 202,448 acres from 220,734 acres sown a year ago, according to the report. The area sown under urad was down at 39,100 acres from 47,571 acres last year, while that of moong also fell to 9,713 acres from 12,080 acres last year. The total area sown under rabi pulses was 261,171 acres, down from 289,029 acres last year.

The total area sown under oilseeds in the state was 255,044 acres from 298,400 acres covered in the previous year, the report showed. The acreage under groundnut was 198,303 acres, down from 243,143 acres last year. Sesame acreage also fell to 21,283 acres from 25,299 acres a year ago.

Sugarcane acreage was up at 18,092 acres from 14,102 acres a year ago, according to the report. The area sown under tobacco fell to 11,027 acres from 17,403 acres last year.

During northeast monsoon, which spans from Oct. 1-Dec. 31, the state received 189.6 millimetres of rainfall, 72% above normal for the period. From Jan. 1–Feb. 28 — which is termed as winter rainfall — the state recorded a 48% deficit in rainfall, the report said. The state has recorded 5.1 millimetres of rain in March so far, which is 24% below normal for the month. "The good rainfall received across the State is expected to facilitate favourable soil moisture conditions, leading to improved crop coverage during the current Yasangi (rabi) season," it said.

The water level in reservoirs across Telangana was 514.9 billion cubic metres as of Wednesday, compared with 460.4 billion cubic metres a year ago, according to the report.  End

Reported by Shreya Shetty

Edited by Tanima Banerjee

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