India’s Kharif Crop Area Reaches 1,056.70 Lakh Hectares
India’s total kharif sowing area stood at 1,056.70 lakh hectares as of August 21, 2026, down 16.07 lakh hectares from last year, mainly due to lower rice and maize acreage. Pulses recorded growth, while oilseeds, sugarcane and cotton remained broadly stable.
New Delhi: India’s total kharif crop area sown stood at 1,056.70 lakh hectares as of August 21, 2026, down 16.07 lakh hectares from 1,072.77 lakh hectares during the corresponding period last year, according to data released by the Government of India.
The decline was led primarily by a sharp reduction in rice acreage, while pulses recorded a modest increase. Oilseeds, sugarcane, jute and mesta, and cotton remained broadly close to last year’s levels, according to the latest All India Progressive Crop Area Sown Report released by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.
Rice area stood at 405.10 lakh hectares, compared with 418.29 lakh hectares a year earlier, a decline of 13.19 lakh hectares or about 3.2%. The government attributed much of the reduction to lower coverage in Karnataka, Telangana, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Maharashtra. Assam and West Bengal recorded higher rice acreage.
Pulses were the notable bright spot, with area rising to 113.63 lakh hectares from 112.14 lakh hectares last year, an increase of 1.49 lakh hectares. Uttar Pradesh recorded the largest increase at 3.97 lakh hectares, followed by Telangana, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. These gains more than offset declines in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Odisha.
Among individual pulses, urad acreage increased by 2.65 lakh hectares to 24.38 lakh hectares, while tur acreage rose by 0.42 lakh hectares. Moong area declined by 1.25 lakh hectares.
Area under Shri Anna and coarse cereals declined by 3.45 lakh hectares to 176.36 lakh hectares. The reduction was concentrated in Karnataka and Maharashtra, although higher coverage in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and other states partly offset the decline. Maize acreage fell by 3.79 lakh hectares to 89.51 lakh hectares.
Oilseed acreage was broadly stable, at 188.37 lakh hectares compared with 188.69 lakh hectares last year. Soybean area declined by 1.41 lakh hectares to 121.35 lakh hectares, while groundnut acreage increased by 0.57 lakh hectares. Sesamum and sunflower also recorded increases.
Sugarcane acreage stood at 58.44 lakh hectares, down 0.43 lakh hectares from last year. Cotton area was almost unchanged at 108.45 lakh hectares, compared with 108.73 lakh hectares a year earlier. Lower cotton coverage in Rajasthan and Haryana was largely offset by increases in Telangana and Gujarat.
Jute and mesta was the only other major crop category to record an increase, with acreage reaching 6.34 lakh hectares, up 0.10 lakh hectares from last year.
Kharif crop area coverage as on August 21, 2026
Area: lakh hectares
| Crop | Normal (DA&FW) | Area Sown 2026-27 | Area Sown 2025-26 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rice | 412.00 | 405.10 | 418.29 | -13.19 |
| Total Pulses | 123.64 | 113.63 | 112.14 | +1.49 |
| Tur | 44.32 | 43.86 | 43.44 | +0.42 |
| Urad | 29.60 | 24.38 | 21.72 | +2.65 |
| Moong | 35.48 | 32.68 | 33.93 | -1.25 |
| Kulthi | 1.48 | 0.23 | 0.26 | -0.03 |
| Moth Bean | 9.69 | 9.22 | 9.17 | +0.05 |
| Other Pulses | 3.07 | 3.27 | 3.63 | -0.36 |
| Shri Anna cum Coarse Cereals | 182.63 | 176.36 | 179.81 | -3.45 |
| Jowar | 14.44 | 13.41 | 12.61 | +0.81 |
| Bajra | 70.94 | 64.68 | 63.33 | +1.35 |
| Ragi | 12.01 | 4.81 | 6.60 | -1.79 |
| Small Millets | 4.47 | 3.95 | 3.98 | -0.03 |
| Maize | 80.77 | 89.51 | 93.30 | -3.79 |
| Total Oilseeds | 200.08 | 188.37 | 188.69 | -0.32 |
| Groundnut | 46.79 | 48.79 | 48.22 | +0.57 |
| Soybean | 128.71 | 121.35 | 122.76 | -1.41 |
| Sunflower | 1.20 | 1.10 | 0.61 | +0.49 |
| Sesamum | 12.88 | 10.81 | 9.39 | +1.42 |
| Nigerseed | 1.01 | 0.33 | 0.22 | +0.11 |
| Castorseed | 9.49 | 5.88 | 7.42 | -1.54 |
| Other Oilseeds | — | 0.12 | 0.07 | +0.04 |
| Sugarcane | 54.20 | 58.44 | 58.87 | -0.43 |
| Total Jute and Mesta | 6.39 | 6.34 | 6.23 | +0.10 |
| Cotton | 125.51 | 108.45 | 108.73 | -0.28 |
| Grand Total | 1,104.45 | 1,056.70 | 1,072.77 | -16.07 |
The latest figures indicate that the overall kharif sowing pace remains below last year, with the shortfall concentrated in rice and coarse cereals. At the same time, the increase in pulse acreage and relatively stable oilseed and cotton coverage point to a mixed crop-area picture as the kharif season progresses.
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Source : Global Agriculture
