Area of Kharif crops in Gujarat is 2 lakh hectares ahead of last year
01-Jul-2025 11:23 AM
Ahmedabad. Sowing of Kharif crops is progressing well in the western Indian state of Gujarat, supported by favourable monsoon rains. Farmers are making consistent efforts to expand the cultivation area.
According to the latest data from the State Agriculture Department, as of June 30 this year, the total area under Kharif crops in Gujarat has increased to 33.92 lakh hectares, which is 9.51 lakh hectares more than the 24.41 lakh hectares recorded during the same period last year.
Compared to last year, during the current Kharif season, the sowing area of grain crops including paddy has improved from 29 thousand hectares to 37 thousand hectares.
The area under pulses has increased from 19 thousand hectares to 31 thousand hectares, while the area under oilseeds has jumped significantly from 9.45 lakh hectares to 16.72 lakh hectares.
Cotton sowing has also expanded from 12.73 lakh hectares to 14.00 lakh hectares, and the area under guar has increased from 604 hectares to 1,240 hectares. Sowing is still underway across the state.
Among grain crops, paddy area has declined from 9 thousand hectares to 5 thousand hectares, and the area of jowar has also reduced from 1,693 hectares to 1,223 hectares.
However, the area under bajra has surged from 2,843 hectares to 14,421 hectares, and maize sowing has increased from 12 thousand hectares to 16 thousand hectares.
In pulses, the area under arhar (tuvar) has expanded from 16 thousand hectares to 23 thousand hectares, moong from 1 thousand hectares to 4 thousand hectares, and urad from 1,141 hectares to 3,265 hectares.
In oilseeds, groundnut sowing has jumped from 9.00 lakh hectares last year to 15.45 lakh hectares this year. Soybean area has increased from 43 thousand hectares to 1.21 lakh hectares, and sesame from 2 thousand hectares to 5 thousand hectares.
Castor sowing has just begun and its area has reached 1,621 hectares, compared to just 5 hectares during the same period last year.
It is noteworthy that Gujarat is the leading producer of groundnut and cotton during the Kharif season and also ranks highest in castor production.
The state is among the top three producers of guar and also grows significant quantities of maize, green gram, tuvar and urad.