Crop Report
Kharif sowing up 10% on year at 13.8 mln hectares; paddy up 58%
This story was originally published at 20:22 IST on 23 June 2025
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--India kharif acreage 13.8 mln ha as of Fri vs 12.5 mln ha year ago
--India kharif paddy acreage 1.3 mln ha as of Fri vs 837,000 ha year ago
--India kharif pulses acreage 944,000 ha as of Fri vs 663,000 ha year ago
--India kharif tur acreage 248,000 ha as of Fri vs 261,000 ha year ago
--India kharif urad acreage 139,000 ha as of Fri vs 62,000 ha year ago
--India kharif moong acreage 443,000 ha as of Fri vs 267,000 ha year ago
--India kharif oilseeds acreage 538,000 ha as of Fri vs 549,000 ha year ago
--India kharif soybean acreage 307,000 ha as of Fri vs 312,000 ha year ago
--India kharif groundnut acreage 178,000 ha as of Fri vs 191,000 ha year ago
--India kharif coarse cereals acreage 1.8 mln ha as of Fri vs 1.5 mln yr ago
--India kharif maize acreage 1.2 mln ha as of Fri vs 1.0 mln ha year ago
--India kharif jowar acreage 151,000 ha as of Fri vs 90,000 ha year ago
--India kharif bajra acreage 370,000 ha as of Fri vs 271,000 ha year ago
--India kharif sugarcane acreage 5.50 mln ha as of Fri vs 5.49 mln ha yr ago
--India kharif cotton acreage 3.1 mln ha as of Fri vs 2.9 mln ha year ago
NEW DELHI – Farmers across the country have planted kharif crops over 13.8 million hectares as of Friday, up 10% from 12.5 million hectares a year ago, according to data released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. The early onset of the southwest monsoon and expectations of an above-normal rainfall have accelerated sowing activity in key agricultural regions. The rise is led by higher acreage in rice, pulses, coarse cereals, and cotton.
Rice sowing has seen a sharp on-year rise of nearly 58% to 1.32 million hectares from 837,000 hectares. The increase comes amid strong demand for the grain, including from ethanol distilleries, which have been allowed to procure rice from the Food Corp. of India. This, along with the hike in the minimum support price, has encouraged paddy planting in several states. MSP for paddy common and grade A quality have been increased by INR 69 per 100 kilograms to INR 2,369 and INR 2,389 per 100 kg, respectively, in 2025-26.
Pulses have been sown over 944,000 hectares, up 42% from a year ago. The rise was mainly due to higher acreage in urad and moong. Moong area has risen 66% on year to 443,000 hectares, while urad acreage has more than doubled to 139,000 hectares. However, the area under tur declined 5% to 248,000 hectares from 261,000 hectares a year ago. Among pulses, the government has incentivised moong cultivation with an MSP of INR 8,768 per 100 kg for 2025–26, higher than the INR 8,000 per 100 kg announced for tur, the popular pulse.
The area under coarse cereals, grouped as "Shri Anna" by the government, stood at 1.80 million hectares, up 22% from 1.48 million hectares a year ago. Maize has led the increase with acreage rising 19.5% on year to 1.23 million hectares. Bajra and jowar also saw significant gains, with sowing at 370,000 hectares and 151,000 hectares, respectively.
Oilseed sowing was marginally lower at 538,000 hectares, down from 549,000 hectares a year ago. Groundnut acreage dipped to 178,000 hectares from 191,000 hectares, while soybean was planted on 307,000 hectares, slightly lower than 312,000 hectares a year ago. The drop comes despite firm edible oil prices and the government's ongoing efforts to boost oilseed production under the National Mission on Edible Oils.
Sugarcane planting remained largely stable at 5.50 million hectares compared to 5.49 million hectares a year ago. Cotton sowing rose 7% year-on-year to 3.1 million hectares from 2.9 million hectares.
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 2025 (ha) | Acreage 2024 (ha) | Change (%) | Normal Area (ha) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paddy | 1,322,000 | 837,000 | 58 | 40,309,000 |
| Tur | 248,000 | 261,000 | (–)5 | 4,471,000 |
| Urad | 139,000 | 62,000 | 124 | 3,264,000 |
| Moong | 443,000 | 267,000 | 66 | 3,569,000 |
| Total Pulses* | 944,000 | 663,000 | 42 | 12,961,000 |
| Jowar | 151,000 | 90,000 | 68 | 1,507,000 |
| Bajra | 370,000 | 271,000 | 37 | 7,069,000 |
| Ragi | 3,000 | 32,000 | (–)91 | 1,152,000 |
| Small Millets | 47,000 | 55,000 | (–)15 | 448,000 |
| Maize | 1,232,000 | 1,031,000 | 19 | 7,895,000 |
| Total Coarse Cereals* | 1,803,000 | 1,477,000 | 22 | 18,071,000 |
| Groundnut | 178,000 | 191,000 | (–)7 | 4,510,000 |
| Soybean | 307,000 | 312,000 | (–)2 | 12,719,000 |
| Sunflower | 27,000 | 26,000 | 4 | 129,000 |
| Sesamum | 20,000 | 14,000 | 43 | 1,032,000 |
| Castor | 1,000 | 2,000 | (–)50 | 965,000 |
| Total Oilseeds* | 538,000 | 549,000 | (–)2 | 19,463,000 |
| Sugarcane | 5,507,000 | 5,488,000 | 0.3 | 5,251,000 |
| Cotton | 3,125,000 | 2,912,000 | 7 | 12,950,000 |
| Grand Total* | 13,784,000 | 12,488,000 | 10.4 | 109,664,000 |
* Figures may not tally exactly with subtotals and grand total as crops with low acreage have not been included.
End
Reported by Afra Abubacker
Edited by Saji George Titus
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