Crop Report
India kharif acreage down 4% on year at 8.46 mln ha as of Fri
This story was originally published at 11:11 IST on 16 June 2026
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--India kharif acreage 8.46 mln ha as of Fri vs 8.80 mln ha year ago
--India kharif paddy acreage 498,000 ha as of Fri vs 388,000 ha year ago
--India kharif coarse cereals acreage 477,000 ha as of Fri vs 432,000 ha
--India kharif maize acreage 228,000 ha as of Fri vs 259,000 ha year ago
--India kharif jowar acreage 73,000 ha as of Fri vs 80,000 ha year ago
--India kharif bajra acreage 115,000 ha as of Fri vs 24,000 ha year ago
--India kharif pulses acreage 155,000 ha as of Fri vs 273,000 ha year ago
--India kharif tur acreage 9,000 ha as of Fri vs 21,000 ha year ago
--India kharif urad acreage 27,000 ha as of Fri vs 35,000 ha year ago
--India kharif moong acreage 69,000 ha as of Fri vs 154,000 ha year ago
--India kharif oilseeds acreage 351,000 ha as of Fri vs 354,000 ha year ago
--India kharif soybean acreage 70,000 ha as of Fri vs 90,000 ha year ago
--India kharif groundnut acreage 257,000 ha as of Fri vs 227,000 ha year ago
--India kharif sugarcane acreage 5.41 mln ha as of Fri vs 5.43 mln ha yr ago
--India kharif cotton acreage 953,000 ha as of Fri vs 1.32 mln ha year ago
MUMBAI – The area under kharif crops across India as of Friday was down nearly 4% from a year ago at 8.46 million hectares, according to data from the agriculture ministry. Delay in the progress and onset of the monsoon across several parts of the country has slowed down the progress of kharif crop sowing. The acreage of paddy and most coarse cereals rose year-on-year, while that of pulses, oilseeds, cotton, and sugarcane fell, according to the data.
The acreage of paddy as of Friday was 498,000 hectares, up more than 28% from 388,000 hectares a year ago, the data showed. Paddy is the largest crop in terms of both acreage and production sown during the kharif season.
The area under coarse cereals, promoted as 'Shri Anna' by the government, was up more than 10% on year at 477,000 hectares, according to the data. Under coarse cereals, the acreage of bajra jumped to 115,000 hectares from 24,000 hectares a year ago. Maize acreage declined to 228,000 hectares from 259,000 hectares a year ago, and that of jowar fell to 73,000 hectares from 80,000 hectares.
The total area under all pulses so far across the country was 155,000 hectares, down over 43% from 273,000 hectares a year ago, the data showed. Tur acreage slipped over 57% on year to 9,000 hectares. The area under urad fell to 27,000 hectares from 35,000 hectares last year, and that under moong fell to 69,000 hectares from 154,000 hectares.
The total acra under all oilseeds as of Friday was 351,000 hectares, slightly lower than 354,000 hectares a year ago, according to the data. Under oilseeds, the acreage of groundnut rose more than 13% on year to 257,000 hectares, while that of soybean was down over 22% on year at 70,000 hectares. Sunflower acreage fell to 16,000 hectares from 22,000 hectares a year ago.
The area under sugarcane was down at 5.41 million hectares from 5.43 million hectares a year ago. Similarly, the acreage of cotton fell nearly 28% on year to 953,000 hectares, the data showed. Jute acreage was up at 618,000 hectares from 609,000 hectares a year ago.
Sowing of several kharif crops, especially pulses, has taken a hit due to the slow progress of the monsoon. Sowing of main kharif crops such as tur, urad, and soybean is yet to begin in full swing in key producing states such as Maharashtra as farmers are awaiting the first spells of showers for the season, according to market participants. During Jun. 1–15, the country received 42.4 millimetres of rainfall, 32% below the normal of 62.1 millimetres, data from the India Meteorological Department showed.
The following table details the sowing of key kharif crops, in hectares, compared with year-ago levels and the year-on-year change in percentage terms:
| Crop | Acreage 2026 (ha) | Acreage 2025 (ha) | Change (%) |
| Paddy | 498,000 | 388,000 | 28.4 |
| Tur | 9,000 | 21,000 | (-)57.1 |
| Urad | 27,000 | 35,000 | (-)22.9 |
| Moong | 69,000 | 154,000 | (-)55.2 |
| Total Pulses* | 155,000 | 273,000 | (-)43.2 |
| Jowar | 73,000 | 80,000 | (-)8.8 |
| Bajra | 115,000 | 24,000 | 379.2 |
| Ragi | 31,000 | 30,000 | 3.3 |
| Maize | 228,000 | 259,000 | (-)12 |
| Total Coarse Cereals* | 477,000 | 432,000 | 10.4 |
| Groundnut | 257,000 | 227,000 | 13.2 |
| Soybean | 70,000 | 90,000 | (-)22.2 |
| Sunflower | 16,000 | 22,000 | (-)27.3 |
| Total Oilseeds* | 351,000 | 354,000 | (-)0.8 |
| Sugarcane | 5,408,000 | 5,429,000 | (-)0.4 |
| Jute | 618,000 | 609,000 | 1.5 |
| Cotton | 953,000 | 1319,000 | (-)27.7 |
| Grand Total* | 8,460,000 | 8,804,000 | (-)3.9 |
* Figures may not tally exactly with subtotals and total as crops with low acreage have not been included.
End
Reported by Shreya Shetty
Edited by Avishek Dutta
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