Improvement in the area of maize and cotton in Karnataka – sowing of other crops is normal
24-Jun-2025 11:00 AM
Bangalore. In the southern states of the country, vigorous sowing of Kharif crops is currently underway, with farmers in Karnataka focusing more on the cultivation of maize and cotton.
The domestic demand and consumption of maize is increasing rapidly, while government procurement of cotton is done regularly. However, the area under pigeon pea (Tuvar) cultivation has declined compared to last year.
As of June 20 this year, the area under maize sowing in Karnataka had increased by about 10 percent, and the area under cotton by 39 percent.
According to the weekly data of the State Agriculture Department, the maize cultivation area during the current Kharif season rose to 9.92 lakh hectares, around 10 percent higher than 8.98 lakh hectares in the same period last year, and more than double the normal average of 4.58 lakh hectares for this period.
Among cereal crops, there has been a slight increase in the area under paddy and millet cultivation, while jowar and ragi are lagging behind.
However, due to the expansion in maize cultivation, the total area under cereal crops has risen from 10.67 lakh hectares to 11.61 lakh hectares. Karnataka received 128 mm of rain between June 1–20, which is more than the normal average of 124 mm. The Kharif sowing target for the state has been set at 82.50 lakh hectares.
The total area under pulse crops has declined from 10.37 lakh hectares last year to 9.75 lakh hectares this year. Within this category, the area of Tuvar fell from 5.73 lakh hectares to 4.88 lakh hectares, and Urad declined from 93 thousand hectares to 69 thousand hectares, while Moong improved from 3.35 lakh hectares to 3.57 lakh hectares.
In oilseed crops, the sowing of groundnut and soybean is lagging, but the area of sunflower has increased. Among cash and industrial crops,
cotton cultivation saw a sharp 39 percent increase from 2.40 lakh hectares to 3.35 lakh hectares, and sugarcane rose from 4.55 lakh hectares to 5.18 lakh hectares. The decline in the area under Tuvar remains a concern.