Kharif Crop Production Target Under Doubt

16-Jul-2025 04:23 PM

New Delhi. Although most parts of the country have received good monsoon rains and continue to benefit from them, experts believe that the government’s ambitious target for Kharif crop production may face hurdles.

Torrential rains and severe floods in several regions have raised concerns, particularly for pulses and oilseeds. At the same time, low rainfall or drought-like conditions in other parts may also impact overall production.

The Union Agriculture Ministry has set a target of 1688.80 lakh tonnes of food grain production for the 2025-26 Kharif season. This includes 1207.50 lakh tonnes of rice, 403.90 lakh tonnes of coarse grains, and 77.40 lakh tonnes of pulses. In addition, the government aims to produce 283.70 lakh tonnes of oilseeds, 4670 lakh tonnes of sugarcane, and 339 lakh bales of cotton (each bale weighing 170 kg).

According to experts, July is the most critical month for Kharif sowing and rainfall. It typically records the highest rainfall, but also carries the highest risk of floods, especially in July and August.

While the monsoon has so far performed well, changing weather patterns could alter the scenario. Notably, over 260 districts are still facing rainfall deficits, while excessive rainfall has caused flooding in several other regions.

The Meteorological Department has projected that July 2025 may receive 6 percent more rainfall than the normal average of 280.40 mm.

Although the total sowing area of Kharif crops is ahead of last year, this progress is largely driven by a few key states. In some areas, sowing lags behind due to insufficient rainfall, and in others,

crops were sown after the initial rains but failed to receive further support, affecting their growth. The remaining part of the season and monsoon performance will be crucial in determining the final outcome of Kharif crop production.