India's Kharif crop sowing surpasses last year with 1121 lakh hectares planted

India's Kharif crop sowing has crossed 1121.46 lakh hectares this season, exceeding last year's total of 1114.95 lakh hectares. While many crops show strong growth, some key sectors have faced declines in planted area.

Rice cultivation has expanded to 441.58 lakh hectares, up from 435.68 lakh hectares in 2024. Maize has seen an even sharper rise, with acreage jumping 12.6% to 94.95 lakh hectares compared to 84.30 lakh hectares last year.

Coarse cereals have also performed well, growing to 194.67 lakh hectares from 183.54 lakh hectares in 2024. Pulses recorded moderate growth, reaching 120.41 lakh hectares—an increase of 1.37 lakh hectares over the previous year. Within pulses, Urad (black gram) saw a 6.5% rise in planted area.

Sugarcane remains on a positive trend, with cultivation expanding to 59.07 lakh hectares from 57.22 lakh hectares in 2024. However, not all crops have fared as well. Soybean acreage dropped by 9.10 lakh hectares, while oilseeds overall fell to 190.13 lakh hectares from 200.75 lakh hectares last year. Cotton sowing also declined, shrinking to 110.03 lakh hectares from 112.97 lakh hectares in 2024.

The latest figures show mixed results across India's Kharif crops. While rice, maize, coarse cereals, and sugarcane have expanded, oilseeds, cotton, and soybeans have seen reductions in planted area. The overall sowing figure for the season still remains higher than the previous year.