Kharif Crop Area in Gujarat Lags by 4 Lakh Hectares

15-Jul-2025 01:52 PM

Ahmedabad. In Gujarat, a major agricultural state in western India, irregular and uneven monsoon rains have slowed down the pace of Kharif sowing.

As of July 14, 2025, the total Kharif crop area stood at 50.27 lakh hectares, which is 4.04 lakh hectares less than the 54.31 lakh hectares recorded during the same period last year. Although the sowing of pulses and oilseeds is ahead this season, reduced acreage in paddy, coarse grains, and cotton has impacted the overall figure.

According to the State Agriculture Department, the area under coarse grains including paddy dropped from 5.26 lakh hectares to 3.84 lakh hectares.

Paddy acreage declined from 1.85 lakh hectares to 1.34 lakh hectares, millet from 1 lakh hectare to 89,000 hectares, and maize from 2.27 lakh hectares to 1.60 lakh hectares. Sowing of sorghum also declined.

Pulses sowing decreased from 1.70 lakh hectares to 1.34 lakh hectares. Under this, the area under Arhar (Tuvar) dropped from 1.23 lakh hectares to 81,000 hectares, and Urad declined from 28,000 hectares to 25,000 hectares. However, Moong area increased from 17,000 hectares to 25,000 hectares.

Oilseeds showed a slight increase in area, rising from 20.01 lakh hectares to 20.79 lakh hectares. Groundnut cultivation rose from 17.23 lakh hectares to 18.51 lakh hectares,

sesame increased from 16,000 hectares to 19,000 hectares, and castor expanded significantly from 6,000 hectares to 19,000 hectares. On the other hand, soybean sowing fell from 2.56 lakh hectares to 1.90 lakh hectares.

Cotton cultivation, where Gujarat leads nationally, also declined from 20.99 lakh hectares to 18.57 lakh hectares. Meanwhile, sorghum sowing increased from 15,000 hectares to 28,000 hectares.