Kharif Sowing Crosses 1,039 Lakh Hectares in 2025; Rice, Maize Up, Oilseeds and Cotton Down
The total area under Kharif crops in India reached 1,039.81 lakh hectares as of August 15, 2025, up 37.39 lakh hectares from last year. Rice led the surge with 398.59 lakh hectares, followed by maize-driven gains in coarse cereals. Oilseeds and cotton acreage declined, while sugarcane registered a notable increase.
Total area covered under Kharif crops in India has reached 1,039.81 lakh hectares as of August 15, 2025, according to data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. This is higher than the 1,002.41 lakh hectares recorded during the same period last year, reflecting an increase of 37.39 lakh hectares.
Rice continues to dominate the season, with sowing reported over 398.59 lakh hectares, up from 362.92 lakh hectares in 2024. The sharp rise of 35.67 lakh hectares in rice acreage has been one of the major contributors to the overall growth, supported by favorable monsoon conditions across several rice-growing states.
Coarse cereals also registered a strong expansion, with the sown area rising to 182.34 lakh hectares, an increase of 9.12 lakh hectares compared to last year. Within this category, maize was the standout crop, with acreage growing by 9.82 lakh hectares, making it a key driver of the overall gains. Pulses showed a smaller yet positive rise, covering 109.52 lakh hectares against 108.39 lakh hectares in 2024, marking an addition of 1.14 lakh hectares.
The trend, however, was not uniform across all crop groups. The area under oilseeds fell to 178.64 lakh hectares, a decline of 6.74 lakh hectares from last year’s 185.38 lakh hectares. Major oilseeds including groundnut, sesamum, soybean, sunflower, and niger seed saw reduced coverage, though castor seed acreage rose modestly by 1.21 lakh hectares.
Cotton cultivation also dipped, with coverage dropping to 107.87 lakh hectares, down by 3.24 lakh hectares from 2024. Jute and mesta recorded a marginal decline as well, covering 5.54 lakh hectares compared to 5.72 lakh hectares last year.
Among cash crops, sugarcane remained a bright spot, with sowing increasing to 57.31 lakh hectares, higher by 1.64 lakh hectares than the previous year.
With sowing still underway in several parts of the country, the final acreage figures are likely to see further adjustments in the coming weeks.
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Source : Krishi Jagran
