Kharif crop acreage, including sugarcane, reaches 7.257 million hectares

09-Jun-2026 01:47 PM

New Delhi. Although sugarcane acreage remains stable at last year's level, the total sown area for Kharif crops is lagging slightly behind due to reduced planting of certain other crops. As the sowing season has only just begun, this deficit in acreage could still be made up later.

The Union Ministry of Agriculture has started releasing data on Kharif crop sowing areas. According to the latest figures, the total sown area for Kharif crops nationwide reached 7.257 million hectares by June 5 this year; this is 0.204 million hectares less than the 7.461 million hectares recorded on the same date last year. Compared to the previous year, sugarcane acreage remained steady at 5.408 million hectares, whereas cotton sowing area dropped from 0.972 million hectares to 0.751 million hectares. Conversely, the area under jute and mesta improved from 0.608 million hectares to 0.618 million hectares.

If the acreage of these three cash or commercial crops is excluded from the total Kharif crop area, the remaining area for other crops is quite small.

According to official data, compared to last year, the area under paddy improved from 0.265 million hectares to 0.285 million hectares, and the sowing area for pulses rose from 35,000 hectares to 52,000 hectares during the current Kharif season. However, the acreage for coarse cereals declined from 0.122 million hectares to 0.101 million hectares, and the area under oilseeds fell from 52,000 hectares to 42,000 hectares.

Crops cultivated during the Kharif season include Arhar (Tur), Urad, Moong, Moth, Kulthi, Jowar, Bajra, Maize, Ragi, Groundnut, Soybean, Sunflower, and Sesame. Sowing for all these crops is currently in the initial stages.