Crop Report
India summer crop area 4.27 mln ha as of Fri, down 2% on year
This story was originally published at 19:36 IST on 23 March 2026
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--India summer crops acreage 4.27 mln ha as of Fri vs 4.37 mln ha year ago
--India summer rice acreage 2.79 mln ha as of Fri vs 2.87 mln ha year ago
--India summer pulses acreage 409,000 ha as of Fri vs 347,000 ha year ago
--India summer moong acreage 257,000 ha as of Fri vs 218,000 ha year ago
--India summer maize acreage 424,000 ha as of Fri vs 500,000 ha year ago
--India summer coarse cereals area 604,000 ha as of Fri vs 684,000 ha yr ago
--India summer oilseeds acreage 469,000 ha as of Fri vs 473,000 ha year ago
--India summer groundnut acreage 298,000 ha as of Fri vs 297,000 ha year ago
MUMBAI – The area sown under summer crops across India fell 2.3% on year to 4.27 million hectares as of Friday, according to agriculture ministry data. The area under rice, the largest summer crop by both acreage and production, was 2.79 million hectares, down 2.8% from 2.87 million hectares a year ago.
The area sown under coarse cereals fell 11.7% on year to 604,000 hectares, the data showed. The acreage under maize, the leading summer coarse cereal in terms of area and production, declined 15.2% to 424,000 hectares from 500,000 hectares a year ago. The area under bajra was 138,000 hectares, up 2.2% from 135,000 hectares at the same time last year.
The total area sown under pulses was 409,000 hectares, up 17.9% from 347,000 hectares a year ago. Moong acreage rose 17.9% to 257,000 hectares and urad acreage rose 12.3% to 128,000 hectares from 114,000 hectares last year.
The total area sown under oilseeds fell 0.8% to 469,000 hectares, the data showed. The area under groundnut was 298,000 hectares, up 0.3% from 297,000 hectares a year ago. The acreage under sesame fell 4.9% to 135,000 hectares.
The normal acreage during the summer crop season, based on the average area covered in the last two years is 7.54 million hectares. The summer crop season in India runs between the rabi and kharif seasons, typically spanning from March to June.
The following table details the sowing of key summer crops so far, compared with the same period a year ago, in hectares, and the year-on-year percentage change:
| Crops | Acreage 2026 | Acreage 2025 | Change (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rice | 2,786,000 | 2,865,000 | (-)2.8 |
| Total Pulses | 409,000 | 347,000 | 17.9 |
| Moong | 257,000 | 218,000 | 17.9 |
| Urad | 128,000 | 114,000 | 12.3 |
| Coarse Cereals | 604,000 | 684,000 | (-)11.7 |
| Bajra | 138,000 | 135,000 | 2.2 |
| Maize | 424,000 | 500,000 | (-)15.2 |
| Total Oilseeds | 469,000 | 473,000 | (-)0.8 |
| Groundnut | 298,000 | 297,000 | 0.3 |
| Sesamum | 135,000 | 142,000 | (-)4.9 |
| Total* | 4,268,000 | 4,369,000 | (-)2.3 |
*The total may not tally as some minor crops have been omitted.
End
Reported by Ashutosh Pati
Edited by Saji George Titus
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