Kharif Sowing Crosses 1,110 Lakh Hectares; Rice, Maize Rise, Oilseeds Decline
India’s Kharif crop area reached 1,110.80 lakh hectares by September 12, 2025, up nearly 15 lakh hectares year-on-year and above the five-year average. Rice acreage rose to 438.51 lakh hectares, pulses saw mixed trends, and coarse cereals—especially maize—gained strongly. Oilseeds declined, sugarcane remained robust, while cotton and jute slightly dipped.
According to data released by Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, the area under Kharif crops has crossed 1,110.80 lakh hectares this season as of September 12, 2025, registering an increase of nearly 15 lakh hectares compared to the same period last year. The acreage is also comfortably higher than the five-year average, reflecting steady progress in the sowing season.
Rice continues to dominate, with cultivation at 438.51 lakh hectares, over 8 lakh hectares higher than last year. Pulses have also seen slight increases, now covering 1.1806 million hectares, although the trends within this category are mixed. While Urad has expanded, Tur and Moong have experienced slight declines.
Coarse cereals have shown strong gains, covering 192.91 lakh hectares, up by more than 12 lakh hectares. Maize accounts for the bulk of this growth, with sowing rising by around 10.5 lakh hectares, highlighting growing demand for food, fodder, and industrial uses.
On the other hand, oilseeds have continued to lag, with the area falling to 188.81 lakh hectares, a drop of about 5 lakh hectares from last year. Soybean remains the main contributor to the decline, slipping by nearly 6 lakh hectares, though groundnut has seen a modest rise.
Sugarcane has maintained its upward trend, holding steady at 57.31 lakh hectares, which is higher than last year and expected to support sugar and ethanol output. Cotton, along with jute and mesta, has slipped slightly in acreage compared to the previous season.
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Source : Krishi Jagran
